TEMPE, Ariz. – Freshman Kendall Gill tied Sunday’s game against No. 5 Arizona State at the top of the second inning with a leadoff home run hit to left center field. The Sun Devils were able to regain control with five runs in the same inning, which lead them to the sweep this weekend’s three game series with UC Santa Barbara.
ASU piled on another run in the bottom of the fourth and then two more at the bottom of the fifth to post a 9-1 victory, its third straight run-rule win over the Gauchos. UCSB falls to 12-14 on the year and ASU improves to 33-2 while pushing its home win streak to 25 games.
Lesley Rogers got the ball rolling for the Sun Devils when she sent a 2-1 pitch over the fence to give ASU a 1-0 lead at the bottom of the first. Gill retaliated with her own solo shot at the top of the next inning, but it would prove to be the lone Gaucho run on the day.
ASU pitcher Hillary Back gave up just three more hits – consecutive singles by McKenzie Kane and Kathryn Pilpil at the top of the third and a single by Lauren Boserin the fourth – and managed to keep the Gauchos away from home plate. She struck out one batter as she improved to 9-0 on the season.
Lacy Goodman hit the game-clinching homer with the bases loaded at the bottom of the second inning. An RBI single from Lesley Rogers gave ASU the 6-1 advantage at the bottom of the second.
An RBI single in the fourth by Mandy Urfer was matched in the fifth with RBIs from Krista Donnenwirth and Annie Lockwood, which brought the game to an early close.
Krista Cobb suffered the loss for the Gauchos as she gave up six runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings of work. She walked five as she fell to 4-7 on the year. Andriana Collins closed the game and allowed three runs on two hits. She walked four and struck out one.
