In a warm-up game for this weekend’s Wilson/DeMarini Invitational, the ASU softball team overpowered UC Santa Barbara 10-2 Thursday night on a game-ending home run.
“We came out with some pretty good enthusiasm and did some real good things,” ASU coach Clint Myers said after the game.
With two outs in the fifth inning and a 5-2 lead, the Sun Devils’ bats came alive. ASU (11-2) finally got to UCSB sophomore Krista Cobb, who held the Sun Devils scoreless through four innings of relief up to that point.
Freshman second baseman Sam Parlich led off the inning with a single before UCSB got two quick outs. Senior left fielder Caylyn Carlson kept things going, though, with an RBI double before sophomore Christina Zambrana’s pinch-hit home run put ASU up 8-2.
Junior centerfielder Lesley Rogers drew a walk, which set the stage for sophomore shortstop Katelyn Boyd’s game-ending shot to left-center, ending the game by run rule.
“I just got out of my own head and just chilled out,” Boyd said. “I did what I know I can do.”
Boyd had been 0-for-3 before the game-ending home run, which was her eighth long ball of the season.
ASU started strong, chasing UCSB senior pitcher Lindsey Correa from the game after just two-thirds of an inning. ASU’s five runs in the first inning included junior third baseman Krista Donnenwirth’s first hit of the season, a two-run home run to right-center.
Cobb held the Sun Devils from there, allowing just two hits before collapsing in the fifth.
It was ASU sophomore Hillary Bach (5-0) who shined in the circle, picking up her fifth win and allowing just one earned run on four hits and no walks.
“I thought [Bach] located well,” Myers said. “She seems to be getting better each time she goes out there.”
Six of ASU’s 10 runs came on home runs, displaying the power in the Sun Devil lineup. Myers was pleased with the power but emphasized a need to hit the ball on the ground more.
“I’m not going to turn a home run away,” Myers said. “But we can’t rely on home runs. When you get into the Pac-10 … you better be able to manufacture some runs. There aren’t going to be 10-2 ballgames.”
ASU takes the field again Friday night for two games against Idaho State at 5:30 p.m. and Northern Iowa at 7:30 p.m.
Urfer out indefinitely
A stress fracture in her foot will keep junior first baseman Mandy Urfer out of the Sun Devil lineup for an undetermined amount of time, Myers said after the game. Myers said the injury would be evaluated every five to six days.
Reach the reporter at tlockman@asu.edu
