Following Thursday’s 13-1 run-scoring victory, the Arizona State softball team looks to make it back-to-back wins on Friday against BYU. Not only is Arizona looking to beat BYU again, but it’s looking to win its seventh straight.
The Wildcats scored six runs in the third inning to take an 8-0 lead and secure the series victory over BYU.
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“I’m proud of them for letting the team go,” the head coach said Caitlin Lowe Just win. “This is a really good team and I thought today was a tough win because they kept a lot of runners on base and we played great defense in a lot of situations today.”
The Cougars were able to single to center field and steal second base. However, Riley Holder responded with two strikeouts and a forced out, holding BYU scoreless.
Arizona started out in the bottom of the first quarter, but Serendi Tris were the first Wildcats to hit base on a single. Tyler Beale A double team to left-center field sent Telles all the way home, mostly because of her quick feet.
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Beal was eventually stranded in the third inning with one out, but the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the second.
BYU got its second hit of the game with a single to the left side of the infield. A bases loaded bunt and a sandbag bunt put the Cougars in scoring position. It was the defensive adjustments and strong infield play that allowed Arizona to still maintain a 1-0 lead at the end of the second inning.
The Wildcats were unable to extend their lead in the second half of the second quarter. BYU got to work immediately and started the third inning with its third hit of the game. Arizona had held the Cougars scoreless after a flyout and an out-of-bounds drive.
A second single brought another BYU player to third, but the Wildcat defense broke through again and kept BYU off the scoreboard.
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It didn’t take long for Arizona to find the scoreboard again. Reagan Shockey singled and was quickly brought home on a triple by Trice. Bill then brought Telles home again with a single to left field and then went on to steal second base.
“Honestly, she’s been a great base stealer,” Lowe said of Beal. “I think people look at Reagan and Beatty as the base stealers on the team. So Taylor can be a little unspectacular at times, but she’s fast and has good bounce.”
back Sidney Stewart and Grace Jenkins Both of them passed by, anissa wild Coming to the plate, the base is already installed. With a full count, Wilder singled up the middle, introducing Beal and Stewart, giving the Wildcats complete control.
A few ground balls out didn’t stop Arizona from putting more points on the scoreboard. Addison Duke Bringing Jenkins and Wilder home, the Wildcats took a 7-0 lead heading into the fourth inning.
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After releasing a single at BYU, Holder’s day ended in an unfortunate incident. On the fourth ball of the second bat of the innings, a ball hit the left side of Holder’s head, causing her face mask to partially come off.
Holder was able to walk off the pitch on her own, but that was the end of her day. Jena Berry was taken to the mound but Jaren Adams She was quickly replaced.
Two BYU batters reached the bases before Adams reached the bases, but Adams trapped them with a strikeout and two forced flyouts.
Trice was walked to start the bottom of the fourth inning, and the Bills brought Trice home for the third time all the way from the first inning, giving the Wildcats another run-scoring victory heading into the top of the fifth inning.
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“I feel like we have a really, really good connection right now, both defensively and offensively,” Beal said. “I knew her speed was going to allow her to score no matter what. So that took a lot of pressure off.”
Adams helped Arizona get to the finish line with a quick pop-up and back-to-back ground outs. The Wildcats will sweep the series at noon Saturday with what could be their eighth straight victory.
“We never talk about running and rolling,” Lowe said. “We do talk about winning pitches, winning innings and always trying to respond when we get hit.”
One question facing Arizona is whether Holder will be available in the future.
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“Just trusting our medical staff, knowing we have the best staff in the country, trusting that she’s going to be OK, but also keeping our focus on the next guy out, trusting that our next pitcher is coming and putting all of our energy into them,” Wilder said.
