ASU softball will play a significant series against Washington at Husky Softball Stadium this weekend in Seattle following their recent struggles against in-state rival and now-No. 8 Arizona and No. 1 UCLA.
No. 24 ASU (25-14, 5-7) lost every matchup against the Wildcats and the Bruins and was outscored 53-5 in the process, including five run-rule losses. Following these defeats, the team expressed focus to just reset and play Sun Devil softball again.
However, especially in Pac-12 play, that task won’t be easy as ASU has to travel to No. 4 Washington (32-6, 9-3).
“We have just turned the page,” junior outfielder Kindra Hackbarth said. “That is all you really can do and prepare for the next week. … The mindset is the same. It is just you have to turn the page, you have to learn from it and get over it.”
For Hackbarth, this weekend will be a special occasion because she will play against and reunite with Washington star junior infielder Nicole “Sis” Bates, a childhood friend.
Hackbarth, along with junior catcher Maddi Hackbarth, played youth softball with Bates in California. UCLA junior utility player Madilyn “Bubba” Nickles and Georgia junior catcher Mahlena O’Neal also played youth softball with them, with one of their teams being the 10U team that placed third at nationals.
“It is definitely always fun seeing (Bates), and it is definitely a good time watching her play,” Hackbarth said. “… I am just proud of her and everything she has done her in college career. It is definitely not given to her. She earns it.”
Even though she and Bates are the same age, Hackbarth said she looks up to her, adding that she sometimes gets emotional when thinking about their friendship and their journey within softball.
“She is definitely special,” Hackbarth said. “Washington is definitely lucky to have her. She is just incredible. She is incredible to watch, she works hard, and she really enjoys the game. … I get speechless talking about her sometimes, and her actions definitely speak louder than her words.”
When discussing the three-game series against the Huskies, senior outfielder Morgan Howe echoed Hackbarth, keeping the turn-the-page theme. Howe also said she and her teammates want to return to playing as they did in the early season with an explosive run-scoring offense.
After Sunday's game against UCLA, there were conversations regarding how ASU could build confidence from the final few innings. The Sun Devils had seven hits and five runs in the last three innings against the Bruins, which has an elite pitching core.
Howe said the team saw glimpses for how they previously played but found that spark late, and she noted that ASU has to carry this momentum into their future matchups.
Washington also has an elite pitching staff – basically a two-headed monster – with senior Taran Alvelo (17-4), who has a 1.95 ERA, and sophomore Gabbie Plain (13-1), who has a 1.16 ERA.
“Getting shut out game after game after game after game after game, it starts to make you feel like, ‘Oh my gosh, we don’t know how to score a run,’” Howe said. “But we have been (scoring runs) the entire season.”
ASU will take on Washington in the series opener at 5 p.m. MST on Friday.
Reach the reporter at nahiatt@asu.edu or follow @NATE_HIATT on Twitter.
Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow @statepressport on Twitter.
