For anyone who may have been in the area of Rural Road and Sixth Street in Tempe on Tuesday afternoon, the answer is no, there was not a home-run derby taking place at Farrington Stadium — that was an actual game.

In the first game of a doubleheader against UNLV, the Sun Devils became the third team in NCAA softball history to hit 10 home runs in a single game, as the team stomped the Runnin’ Rebels 20-10.

Sophomore catcher Kaylyn Castillo began the onslaught of home runs when she put one over the left-field fence in the beginning of the second inning. Unfortunately for UNLV, Castillo’s home run was a preview of what the rest of the day had to offer.

Sophomore Krista Donnenwirth went yard twice in the first game, and in what became a game of “anything you can do, I can do better,” freshman Christina Zambrana decided to do the same.

Freshman Katelyn Boyd, who had two home runs on the day, including a grand slam in game two of the home run fiasco, was all smiles after game two.

“It was a hit-fest,” Boyd said. “Everybody hit. It was great to see some of the girls who don’t play as much hit the ball as well as we did.”

Boyd said that the team struggled defensively in the first game but when the offense puts 20 runs on the board, a bad defensive showing is not the end of the world.

“We struggled a little defensively in the first game, but we picked it up in game two,” Boyd said. “We were all hitting great. We got to see almost all of their pitchers, which obviously helped.”

Junior Megan Elliott struggled on the mound in the first game, but freshman Megan Ellsworth came in to the game in relief and got the win.

In game two, the often flawless freshman pitcher Hillary Bach hurled a gem of a game, giving up only five hits and two runs, as the Sun Devils resumed the unfaltering slaughter of the UNLV pitching staff in a 15-2 win.

Eight of the 15 runs came as the result of two grand slams, one by Boyd and the other by senior Renee Welty.

Sun Devil coach Clint Myers said he was impressed with the team’s performance.

“We swung the bat well today, there’s no question about that,” Myers said. “Our defense struggled a bit in the first game, but we got it together for the second game.”

Myers said the team’s focus is now set on the upcoming desert showdown with UA.

“Now we need to get ready to go to UA and play in front of a hostile crowd,” he said. “Anyone who wants to come support us in Wildcat land, we’d surely appreciate it.”

The Sun Devils will head to Tucson on Friday for a two-game set with the UA.

Reach the reporter at jaking5@asu.edu.