ASU softball improved its record to 8-2 after dominating the Littlewood Classic at Tempe's Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium through the weekend, going 4-1, and outscoring its opponents 35-15.
Coming off of a four-win weekend in San Diego, the Sun Devils returned to Tempe looking to continue the early season push. The Sun Devils once again secured a four-win weekend, but this time on home soil and in front of one of Arizona's signature fade-to-pink sunsets.
Returning outfielders graduate student Yannira Acuña and senior Jazmine Hill shined this weekend with five and seven runs, respectively. Acuña hit her 38th career double on Sunday, moving her up to 10th all-time in Sun Devil history.
Freshman pitcher Kylee Magee brought her talents to Tempe for the first time this season and in eight innings pitched, only allowed two runs and six hits.
Next for ASU softball is the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic which begins Friday, Feb. 24, when ASU takes on Loyola Marymount at 9 p.m. MST.
BYU
BYU started fast Thursday, earning four runs in the first inning, and ASU couldn't overcome the miscues that led them into debt. ASU already faced a 6-0 deficit by the end of the second inning.
In the third inning, ASU rallied behind senior infielder Jordyn VanHook. VanHook singled and got ASU on the scoreboard via a run by Hill. After, graduate student infielder Alexa Milius hit an RBI that allowed VanHook to score and cut the deficit to 6-3.
VanHook and Milius hit home runs and cut BYU's lead to 6-5 in the fifth inning. However, that was as much as BYU would allow.
BYU exploded in the seventh inning, halting any chance of a comeback, holding ASU scoreless and scoring four more runs. BYU ran away with a 10-5 victory in Tempe at ASU's expense.
Portland State
ASU got back on track Friday night, defeating Portland State 8-0.
Acuña opened with a home run in the first inning, adding to her solid start to the season. She went 2-3 at bat and added an RBI against Portland State.
VanHook also excelled against Portland State in the fourth inning, hitting ASU's second home run. VanHook later hit a line drive, allowing ASU to score three more runs and clinch the win. Vanhook finished hitting 3-3 with a career-high five RBIs.
Trailing 3-0 in the fourth inning, Portland State had loaded bases, threatening to intercept the Devils' three-point lead hastily. But pitcher Magee was clutch in those moments. She struck out Portland State's freshman outfielder Trinity Holden to loud cheers, then forced an easy ground out on junior catcher Bailee Noland on the next pitch.
Magee's emergence was a welcome sight for Sun Devil fans. She started her first home game, struck four players out, and surrendered no points.
"I've been waiting for this for a minute," Magee said. "Last week was cool, but we were just away, so I didn't have that true feeling. Seeing all the fans, it was just like, yeah, I made the right decision."
At the bottom of the fifth, Milius sent ASU fans home early, satisfied with a walk-off double for the win.
Illinois State
ASU's offense started slow against Illinois State, but once it got the ball rolling, the squad displayed a scorching offensive exhibition.
Facing a three-point deficit in the third inning, Acuña hit an RBI to get ASU on the board. Hill hit a home run that pushed ASU ahead to 4-3 after Acuña and junior infielder Savannah Price scored runs. Senior infielder Jazmyn Rollin also hit a home run in the third inning as ASU took a firm grip on the game. The Devils scored five runs in the inning.
ASU kept its foot on the gas and topped its third-inning performance with a six-point fourth. Graduate student outfielder Makenna Harper and VanHook hit home runs in ASU's five-inning 11-3 win Saturday afternoon.
DePaul
ASU shut out DePaul 8-0 on the backend of the doubleheader Saturday. The Sun Devils again didn't score any runs in the first inning, but once on board, they scored points in bunches.
ASU hit DePaul with a tidal wave, scoring six of its eight runs in the second inning. Freshman utility Shannon Cunningham and graduate student utility Marissa Schuld, Milius, VanHook, Acuña, Price and Hill all scored runs for ASU, and ASU only surrendered one hit.
VanHook shined again in ASU's win, earning a home run for her fourth-straight game. ASU won its third game in a row and second straight in five innings.
Weber State
ASU's game against Weber State was airtight, both teams going back and forth until ASU put the nail in the coffin. In the first inning, Rollin singled into right field, allowing Acuña to reach home for a score. But once Weber State got back on offense, Wildcat junior infielder Emily Ruhl hit a home run to tie the game.
In the third inning, Wildcat sophomore catcher Mika Chong hit an RBI, which allowed fifth-year infielder McKell McCuistion to score and earn Weber State the 2-1 lead. In the fourth inning, freshman outfielder Yannixa Acuña stepped in as a pinch hitter and scored thanks to an RBI from Harper.
ASU's defense was critical, not allowing Weber State to score additional points after Ruhl's home run. Hill returned the favor in the fifth inning and hit her third home run of the season en route to defeating Weber State 3-2 in the Littlewood Classic finale.
Edited by Kathryn Field and Piper Hansen.
Reach the reporter at asmit263@asu.edu and follow @AlfredS_III on Twitter.
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