For the ASU softball team, it’s the little things that matter.
Whether it’s base running, hitting, or communication in the field, the details in a softball game can decide if a team wins or loses, yet they often go unnoticed.
After a series win in the opening week of Pac-10 play, the No. 3 Sun Devils (35-3, 2-1 Pac-10) travel north for a three-game bout against Oregon.
Against the No. 16 Ducks (29-6, 1-2), ASU hopes to improve upon those little things.
“We’ve said that from day one that it’s the little things that are going to win games or lose games,” ASU coach Clint Myers said. “If we do the little things then it enhances our ability to win. If we don’t do the little things, it can cause some problems like it did in the Cal series.”
Although content with the series win, ASU has used last weekend’s Cal series as a model to learn from.
“We’ve got to understand what a three game series is,” Myers said. “Just because you win two out of three it’s not what you want to do. You could just as easily be on the other end, and now that two out of three doesn’t look as good. Anytime you got a chance to get a sweep, boy you want to take it.”
Similar to the Sun Devils, the Ducks feature a deep pitching staff with several capable arms. Four pitchers have a combined 1.62 ERA with 11 complete games and 291 strikeouts.
Sophomore Jessica Moore leads all UO hurlers with a 1.21 ERA and a 14-3 record. Junior Samantha Skillingstad is right behind Moore with a 1.70 ERA and an 8-1 mark.
Those little things will play an important role against Moore.
“We know what she likes to do,” senior third baseman Krista Donnenwirth said. “We have to be ready for the pitches that she’s going to throw us, and just be aggressive, but patient to the ones that are in our zone.”
In the batter’s box against the UO pitching staff will be a loaded ASU lineup.
Junior shortstop Katelyn Boyd sits atop the order with a .467 batting average and 11 home runs. However, the strong supporting cast behind her is just as impressive.
There’s freshman outfielder Alix Johnson and her .417 average, followed by senior first baseman Mandy Urfer, Donnenwirth and junior left fielder Talor Haro, who are hitting .393, .398 and .396 respectively.
Pitching will once again be paramount to success in the three-game series.
Last weekend, freshman pitcher Dallas Escobedo made her Pac-10 debut and picked up two wins and a loss. She heads to Oregon with a 17-2 record and a 1.32 ERA.
Escobedo is slated to start two of the three games.
ASU freshman pitcher Mackenzie Popescue could make a start in the circle as well. In 16 appearances, she has posted a 1.60 ERA and a 9-1 record. Opposing hitters are hitting just .183 against both Escobedo and Popescue.
Stepping up to the plate against the Sun Devils will be a Duck lineup that boasts two .400 hitters.
Senior first baseman Monique Fuiava brings her .440 average, nine doubles and team-leading 32 RBIs to the plate, while freshman infielder Courtney Ceo is hitting .419 with 44 hits and 28 runs.
No matter how well Escobedo throws or how many hits the powerful lineup collects, ASU knows not executing the little things could take away a win.
“These games are not blowouts, they’re close games,” Haro said. “It’s the small stuff that we have to remember. Those things will kill us as far as miscommunication, base running, the small stuff.”
Reach the reporter at greg.dillard@asu.edu
FRIDAY’S GAME
No. 3 Sun Devils at No. 16 Ducks
When: 6:00 p.m.
Where: Eugene, Ore.
Oregon update: The Ducks were stellar in non-conference play, but ran into a wall last weekend at No. 6 Washington, dropping two of three. UO has only played four games at home all year, and won all of them.
