What was expected to be a hard-fought battle between two highly ranked in-state rivals with potent offenses turned out to be a set of blowouts.
On the second night of the Territorial Cup series, the ASU softball team made history. On the third night, the No. 10 Sun Devils were blown away, as No. 2 UA took the series for the second straight season.
On Friday night, ASU topped the Wildcats 11-1 in five innings for the team’s first-ever run-rule win over UA. But in the series finale on Saturday, UA routed the Sun Devils (32-6, 1-2 Pac-10) 14-2 in five innings.
After UA freshman pitcher Kenzie Fowler dominated ASU Thursday, the Sun Devils came back at the Wildcats Friday with their own freshman fireballer in Sam Parlich.
Parlich was tabbed at the last minute to pitch and made the most of the opportunity, earning her first Pac-10 win,
“I didn’t think I was going to throw at all this weekend,” Parlich said. “I was a little nervous, but once the game got going, I was fine.”
The Wildcats (30-4, 2-1) were only able to notch four hits off Parlich, as she allowed one run, walked one batter and struck out five to improve to 6-2 overall.
“The biggest credit has to go to the freshman pitcher out there,” ASU coach Clint Myers said after Friday’s game. “But we had 11 hits and we did turn some things around [after Thursday’s 12-6 loss].”
The Sun Devil offense backed its young pitcher with an early lead. ASU scored four runs in the first inning, and Parlich helped her own cause with a two-run triple down the right-field line.
“It got a lot of pressure off my shoulders to score some runs,” Parlich said.
The Sun Devils weren’t done, though, as sophomore shortstop Katelyn Boyd and junior third baseman Krista Donnenwirth both singled in runs in the second inning. Boyd finished the game 3-for-3 with two RBI.
UA senior pitcher Sarah Akamine was only able to hold ASU scoreless in the third inning. She allowed two runs in the fourth inning before leaving the game with two runners on base.
Senior Ashley Ralston-Alvarez came in to relieve, but she was little relief for the Wildcats, as sophomore right fielder Annie Lockwood launched a three-run home run over the left-field wall to cap ASU’s five-run inning.
“I was just trying to relax and see the ball,” Lockwood said.
All 11 of ASU’s runs were scored with two outs, and the team left just one runner on base all night after stranding 10 on Thursday.
Fowler (20-2) took the circle again Saturday for the Wildcats, and she again had her way with the Sun Devils. Fowler went five innings, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out six.
“You’ve got to take advantage of mistakes,” Myers said following the game Saturday. “[Fowler] didn’t make many.”
The ASU offense managed only one hit, a single from Lockwood, until the fifth inning, when junior first baseman Mandy Urfer singled to set up junior center fielder Lesley Rogers’ two-run home run.
But that was all ASU would do at the plate, as the UA bats ruled the day.
Parlich (6-2) got the start again for ASU, and UA got to her for four runs in the third inning, including a three-run home run from freshman third baseman Brigette Del Ponte. Parlich took the loss, allowing seven hits and four runs in three innings.
“We figured we’d go with [Parlich] until she ran out of gas,” Myers said. “She went out there and battled.”
UA seized the game in the fourth inning, tagging ASU senior pitcher Megan Elliott for 10 runs, six of them earned.
Fowler helped her own cause with her first-career grand slam, and junior center fielder Lauren Schutzler finished the day 2-for-4 with four RBI and a home run.
“I thought we did some good things,” Myers said. “But when you give up 14 runs, you’re going to have to do a lot of good things.”
ASU will prepare this week for a road series against No. 5 UCLA. Starting left fielder senior Caylyn Carlson is questionable for the series after missing two games against UA with a back injury.
Reach the reporter at tyler.lockman@asu.edu
