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Pair of wins kicks off busy week for softball


Midweek games, an added game and a rescheduled game have produced a whirlwind week for the ASU softball team.

With nine games in five days, the endurance of the No. 10 Sun Devils will be tested more than it has yet this season.

“When you’re playing [nine] games in five days, it’s just a grind,” ASU coach Clint Myers said. “There’s no way of preparing.”

ASU started the grind out right, with two wins Tuesday night, 4-0 over Creighton and 11-3 over St. John’s.

The matchup with Creighton (9-5) was rescheduled from Sunday’s Wilson/DeMarini Invitational finale due to rain, and the meeting with St. John’s (6-5) was added after rain canceled two games with South Florida.

The Sun Devils have another game with each team Wednesday.

The Sun Devils (17-2) entered the first matchup against CU without having played or practice since Saturday, leaving little time to adjust. But Myers said the most crucial adjustment is consistency.

“For us to be the club that we expect to be, we need to be a lot more physically and mentally consistent,” Myers said. “I’m not displeased with the way we’re playing. I just think we’ve got to get better.”

Sophomore pitcher Hillary Bach dominated the Bluejays in a complete-game effort, allowing just two hits to improve to 7-0.

ASU’s offense got to CU senior ace Tara Oltman, who entered the game 7-2 with a 1.20 ERA and more than eight strikeouts per seven innings after going 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA last weekend.

The Suns Devils’ four runs, including two RBI from junior catcher Kaylyn Castillo, were below the teams average 9.5 runs per game.

The night’s second game saw ASU’s bats wake up for a slew of runs against the Red Storm.

Senior first baseman Katie Crabb led ASU at the plate, hitting two home runs to finish with three RBI. Sophomore right fielder Annie Lockwood went 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and a game-ending home run to deep left field in the sixth inning (herseventh of the year).

It was ASU senior pitcher Megan Elliott (7-1) that shined most in the win. After giving up three runs on three hits in the first inning, Elliott settled down for five scoreless innings and just one hit as the game ended in six innings by run rule.

The run difference in the pair of games exposed the team’s occasional reliance on home runs. Of ASU’s 32 runs scored in last weekend’s Wilson/DeMarini Invitational, 14 came off home runs.

Myers said run production from line drives and balls on the ground will be most important in Pac-10 play.

“There’s a lot of difference facing pitchers in the Pac-10 than pitchers outside the Pac-10,” Myers said after Sunday’s rain out.

Despite inconsistencies and needed improvements, Elliott expressed confidence in the Sun Devil pitching staff and the team as a whole.

“Every weekend, every game we’re making progress,” Elliott said. “I think we’re heading in the right direction.”

ASU next takes on CU at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, followed by a 7 p.m. game with SJU.

Reach the reporter at tyler.lockman@asu.edu


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