No. 17 ASU softball completed the Sun Devil Classic, defeating Maryland via run-rule for the second time this weekend, dominating in every facet of the game in a 16-2 victory.
Redshirt senior Cielo Meza started in the circle, pitching three scoreless innings and allowing two hits.
The hot offense started immediately, with a single from senior center fielder Kindra Hackbarth followed by two walks to load the bases.
"We are still trying to figure it out, so we were being kind of careful the first time through the lineup this weekend," head coach Trisha Ford said. "We talked about attacking early attacking first, being on the offense all the time."
The Sun Devils plated two runners in the first inning on an RBI fielder's choice from freshman shortstop Alynah Torres and a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior catcher Maddi Hackbarth.
Kindra Hackbarth kept up her hot bat with a two RBI double in the second inning. Maddi Hackbarth drove in the third run of the inning with another sacrifice fly, giving the Sun Devils a 5-0 lead.
The bats continued to roll with an RBI single to right field from sophomore left fielder MaKenna Harper in the third. One of the Terrapins' two errors proved costly, allowing junior third baseman Kiara Kennedy to score after reaching on a single earlier in the inning.
The freshman pair of right fielder Jazmine Hill and Torres drove in three more runs. Hill scored junior second baseman Bella Loomis with a double and Torres cleared the bases with a home run, putting the Sun Devils ahead 11-0 after three innings.
Fifteen Sun Devils had at bats in the game and the pinch hitters rewarded Ford's decisions with major production.
Freshman utility player Jordyn VanHook hit her first career home run in her pinch hit appearance in the fourth. Just two batters later, that milestone was reached again in pinch hit fashion as freshman pitcher Lindsay Lopez hit a two run home run for the first time in her career.
"The moment I knew it was gone was when I was rounding first and coach Wynn was like, 'Yeah'," VanHook said. "I was like, 'Oh my gosh that's so cool,' it was really cool to round the bases and see my teammates cheering me on."
Hill capped off the fourth with the third home run of the inning in the form of a two run shot, giving the Sun Devils a commanding 16-0 lead.
Freshman pitcher Morgan Leinstock made her collegiate debut with the task of finishing the last two innings. Leinstock allowed two runs on four hits in her two innings of work, ending the game with a final score of 16-2.
The Sun Devils will look to carry on their momentum as they begin the ASU Invitational on March 5 against Wright State at 6:00 p.m. MST in Tempe.
Reach the reporter at kbdyer2@asu.edu and follow @TheKamDyer on Twitter.
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