Arizona softball clinches rivalry series over Arizona State in extras

Jorge Ramos
The Republic | azcentral.com
Alyssa Palomino (32) of the Arizona Wildcats is dunked with a Gatorade bath following the Wildcats' 4-2 win against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Farrington Softball Stadium on Sunday, April 22, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona.

Chants of “U-of-A, U-of-A” rang loud throughout Farrington Softball Stadium after Arizona pitcher Taylor McQuillin sealed a 4-2 rivalry win in extra innings over Arizona State in Tempe on Sunday.

Her Wildcats teammates swarmed after McQuillin got ASU infielder Bella Loomis to swing through a third strike in the bottom of the eighth.

Sophomore Jessie Harper gave Arizona a 4-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning with a two-run single that went just over the outstretched glove of ASU junior center fielder Morgan Howe.

McQuillin (20-9) avenged Friday's loss as she went eight innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and struck out 11 ASU batters. Opposite of her was ASU ace Giselle Juarez, who was equally superb as she also pitched a complete game, with six strikeouts and allowed four runs.

“It’s just focusing on me. I guess not necessarily on what they (Arizona) did. I hit their bat. They didn’t touch me,” Juarez said.

Arizona (31-13, 8-10 Pac-12) captured its first Pac-12 series win since sweeping Cal Berkeley on March 31. With Sunday's victory over ASU, Arizona has now tied the multi-sport Territorial Cup series, 8-8.

ASU (35-9, 9-6 Pac-12) dropped its second consecutive series in Pac-12 play but is still in sole possession of fourth place as it leads Oregon State, which holds a 7-8 Pac-12 record.

Aside from its two runs, ASU struggled at the plate Sunday as it was unable to string together at-bats and bring runners in once they did reach base.

“We didn’t make (McQuillin) pay in any big situation. Offensively we’ve got to get some better production up and down our lineup,” ASU head coach Trisha Ford said. “There’s a couple kids consistent in our lineup that are having good at-bats, but … we need to have it spread out one through nine.”

ASU struck early against McQuillin as sophomore outfielder Kindra Hackbarth hit a leadoff double down the left-field line in the bottom of the first. A fielder's choice to second base scored Hackbarth, who had advanced to third on a wild pitch, to give ASU the early 1-0 lead.

The next runs didn't come until the sixth when Arizona sophomore first baseman Alyssa Palomino hit a two-run home run to center field to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead. A questionable call two batters prior to Palomino’s home run allowed leadoff hitter Ashleigh Hughes to take first after she swung at a ball that hit her.

“(The umpire) said it hit off her hand,” Ford said.

ASU did not go without a fight as senior second baseman Marisa Stankiewicz led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a home run to center field to tie the game up for ASU at 2 apiece.

“It’s exciting. I have been struggling at the play after coming back home from Oregon State,” Stankiewicsz said. “Trying to be shorter to the ball was all that I was thinking of while I was at the box.”

Arizona shut down any chance for a walk-off when second baseman Reyna Carranco leapt for a ball and kept Hackbarth from an RBI base hit that would have scored junior Taylor Becerra, who doubled earlier in the inning.

In the end, it was Harper's two-run single in the. top of the eighth that sealed the win for the Wildcats.

ASU will begin a three-game series in Salt Lake City against Utah on Friday, while Arizona will host New Mexico in Tucson on Wednesday.

UA softball evens rivalry series

By Jeff Metcalfe

April 21, 2018

Perhaps Arizona State softball players expected it to be easier going against Arizona’s No. 2 pitcher Saturday.

Or that, like Friday in a 2-1 win, they would eventually find a way at home to squeeze by the No. 13 Wildcats again to clinch a Territorial Cup Series point.

Instead, UA sophomore Alyssa Denham limited No.  8 ASU to two hits in a 4-1 complete-game victory before 1,956 at Farrington Stadium. The Sun Devils also had just two hits Friday.

“We took some things for granted, I don’t know, but our plate discipline today was not good,” ASU coach Trisha Ford said. “We’ve got to be better.”

ASU senior Breanna Macha (10-5) worked out of jams in the first through third innings, stranding six runners, before UA broke through with three runs in the fourth. Reyna Carranco’s double down the right-field line scored two.

Morgan Howe homered leading off in the ASU fourth. But Denham (7-3) retired Jade Gortarez and Howe in the fifth and struck out pinch-hitter Kwyn Cooper in the sixth, all with two runners on base.

“At this level in this conference, we’re very used to seeing mid to high 60s (mph),” Howe said. “I don’t what the exact clock was on her, but she wasn’t overpowering. She wasn’t blowing it by us. It’s transitioning from getting your foot down going to let the ball come to you then drive it.

“We need to be better from the get go. We can’t be taking our third time through the lineup to figure it out. We need to be better making adjustments.”

Ford was happy with the performance of Macha, who threw 131 pitches and stranded nine runners. One of UA’s runs was unearned after a throwing error by second baseman Marisa Stankiewicz.

“The mentality we need to have is they (hitters) are going to come through, just keep grinding each inning out,” Macha said. “Hits are going to come, hits are going to go. Our biggest thing is staying consistent and getting up there every inning and battling.”

Ford said, “We’ve got hit behind her (Macha). She threw a heck of a game, she did what she was supposed to do and get ground-ball outs. She’s working her tail off doing the things we ask her to do. She’s giving us everything she has.”

Freshman Rylee Maston made her first start at catcher for ASU, giving Maddi Hackbarth a day off. “Rylee is very capable or I wouldn’t have given her that big of a start,” Ford said. “It was very seamless. You didn’t even know she was behind there. That’s a really good sign of a catcher.”

ASU fell to 35-8, 9-5 Pac-12. UA snapped a seven-game Pac-12 losing streak and is 30-13, 7-10 going into the rubber game of the rivalry series at 5 p.m. Sunday. Pitching aces Giselle Juarez (ASU) and Taylor McQuillin are likely to duel again like on Friday.

“They’d better come out with some tenacity tomorrow,” Ford said of her players. “Or it’s going to be an interesting game.”

No. 8 ASU softball takes series opener over No. 13 Arizona 

April 20, 2018

Arizona State softball players weren’t sure if Danielle Gibson was going to hit a walk-off home run in the seventh inning Friday night or drive a ball into the gap.

They just expected the freshman first baseman to come through against Arizona like she has all season.

And on cue, Gibson delivered with a double to left center, scoring Morgan Howe from first for a 2-1 win before a standing-room crowd of 2,045 at Farrington Stadium.

“I’m grateful I had the opportunity and was able to respond on it,” Gibson said. “Mo did her part, I did mine. It was a really good team win.”

No. 8 ASU (35-7, 9-4 Pac-12) needs one win in the next two games to take the Territorial Cup Series softball point over No. 13 UA (29-13, 6-10). The Wildcats suffered their seventh consecutive conference loss, all to top 10-ranked opponents.

Game 2 is at 2 p.m. Saturday and the series finale at 5 p.m. Sunday.

UA went up 1-0 on its opening at-bat when Ashleigh Hughes homered to center field off ASU ace Giselle Juarez. The Wildcats nearly added a second run in the first with two on and two out, only for ASU second baseman Marisa Stankiewicz to turn a grounder headed for center field into a diving out.

“That was SportsCenter-esque,” ASU coach Trisha Ford said. “She dove and tossed the ball (to shortstop Jade Gortarez for a force out) at the same time. You’ve got to get lucky and you’ve got to make big plays when it’s time to make big plays. That was huge.”

As was Kindra Hackbarth slapping a home run to right center off UA’s Taylor McQuillin leading off the fourth for ASU’s first hit. The second was Gibson’s game winner.

“Honestly I talked to the coaches before my at-bat, and I was just going to place it,” Hackbarth said. “I got a change-up inside and it was up, and I just went for it.”

It was the sophomore’s second career homer and changed the game’s momentum.

“I was in the middle of my in-game interview (on Pac-12 Network),” Ford said. “I was paying attention to the on-camera across the way and didn’t actually see the ball off the bat, just saw the trajectory of it and Kindra going crazy. She’s just turned into a great ball player. She bunts, she slaps, she hits.

“It’s fun to watch them enjoy this, to embrace it and be successful. I always tell them when you get the heebie jeebies or nervous nellies, that’s a sign something great is going to happen.”

Juarez (19-2) was great again, allowing three hits and striking out 13 to out-duel McQuillin (19-9), whose two-hitter included 10 strikeouts.

So was Gibson, driving McQuillin’s first pitch to her in the seventh to the wall, where UA center fielder Hughes picked up the ball but could not get it to the infield in time for a relay to cut down Howe at the plate.

“I was thinking one base at a time,” Howe said. “I saw the ball hit in the gap, so I was like, 'All right I’m going three (to third).' Then I see coach Ford yelling, 'Go!' I was not prepared to go from first to four (home), but it happened.

“It I had to replay it in my head, I couldn’t because I was so excited. I understand the (rivalry) hype now. I’m looking forward to going at it again. After that, I kind of wanted to go play again.”

ASU softball hosts Arizona looking to solidify regional host chances

Rock 'em sock 'em Pac-12 softball rises to an even higher level this weekend for No. 8 Arizona State and No. 13 Arizona.

The rivalry series, starting Friday at Farrington Stadium, has all the usual stakes and also could be a determining factor in NCAA regional site selection.

No. 1 Washington, No. 3 UCLA and No. 4 Oregon are on track to be NCAA postseason hosts May 18-20 and perhaps beyond in a super regional. ASU is seeking to host for the first time since 2014 and a series win over UA would go a long way toward achieving that goal.

"Our opportunity is good," coach Trisha Ford said. "Honestly whatever happen, happens. You have to go through somebody. It would be fantastic to be able to host regionals, but if we don't take care of business it could be gone in the blink of an eye. We can't take it for granted. I always tell our players to stay in our lane."

RELATED:Pac-12 softball standings | Scores

ASU (34-7, 8-4 Pac-12) has been in the fast lane since Ford arrived as coach from Fresno State. The Sun Devils were 31-22 in Ford's first season a year ago and already are closing in on their winningest season since 2014.

Washington's only two losses this season are to ASU, another indication of the Pac-12's strength. Yet no one from the Pac-12 has won the Women's College World Series since the Sun Devils in 2011. Eight-time champion UA has not reached the WCWS since 2010.

As Ford suggested, nothing is automatic.

Arizona (29-12, 6-9) comes to ASU off a welcome Wednesday sweep of New Mexico State that ended a six-game losing streak against Oregon and UCLA. 

The Wildcats are led by power hitters Alyssa Palomino and Jessie Harper, who have combined for 27 home runs and 72 RBI. Harper was a major factor last season in UA's series win over ASU.

"Aly is a great kid," Ford said. "We have to keep her bat quiet for us to be successful. Then we have a very specific plan of attack for Harper, who killed us last year."

Harper's younger sister Makenna has signed with ASU and will begin her college career in 2019 when sister Jessie is a junior at UA, adding another wrinkle to the rivalry.

ASU's leading pitcher Giselle Juarez (18-2, 0.073 ERA, 213 strikeouts) is left-handed, which could be an advantage against UA's lefty heavy lineup. "My money is always on G," Ford said. Breanna Macha (10-4, 2.50) likely will get one start in the series.

UA's No. 1 pitcher is Taylor McQuillin (19-8, 1.82, 195 strikeouts) with Alyssa Denham (6-3, 2.18) also available. 

ASU lost two of three at home last week to Oregon, winning the finale 4-0 on a Juarez three-hit shutout.

"We didn't play our game in the Oregon series although I'm really happy they bounced back, pitched and had a good attack in the box on Sunday. Things aren't always going to go our way, and we didn't handle the adversity very well (in games 1-2 vs. Oregon). We talked about how good that was for us and another growth point. 

"This is such a tough conference. Sometimes it can get grueling. You've got to love the hard. That's something we really preach."

Ford and Mike Candrea, in his 33rd season at Arizona, are friends to a point.

"When we're in games, we want to kick each other's butt," Ford said. "That's how it should be. When the series is over, he's one of the people I can call and ask for advice. He's a softball icon. It wouldn't be very smart for me not to utilize that. But he and I both pretty competitive. It's not lovely dovey on game day."

Arizona at ASU

When: 5 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Farrington Stadium

TV: Pac-12 Network

Streaming: Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 app

Outlook: ASU freshman Danielle Gibson is among 25 candidates for the NFCA national Freshman of the Year award. Gibson is hitting .416 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI. The list will be cut to 10 on May 10 then to three finalists on May 23. The winner will be announced May 29 at the WCWS. ... In addition to 1B Palomino and SS Harper, UA's top hitters are 3B Malia Martinez, 2B Reyna Carranco and C Dejah Mulipola (10 home runs, 29 RBI). ... The Wildcats lead the nation in home runs per game.

Territorial Cup Series update

After a 3-2 beach volleyball win Wednesday, Arizona leads 7-6 in the Territorial Cup Series with eight points still to be decided.

The softball point is up for grabs this weekend as are T-Cup points in men's and women's tennis. Golf points will be decided at the upcoming Pac-12 Championships.

UA men's tennis (15-13, 0-7 Pac-12) is at ASU (13-9, 2-4) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Whiteman Tennis Center. 

ASU's Michael Geerts is ranked No. 20 nationally in singles, up seven spots after his win last week over No. 1 Martin Redlicki of UCLA. Geerts also has a win over No. 4 Mikael Torpegaard of Ohio State in ASU's first season back on the courts since 2008.

ASU women's tennis (14-6, 6-3) is at Arizona (9-14, 0-9) at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Sun Devils won 4-3 over USC last week, their first win over the Trojans since 2011 and first win in Los Angeles since 2002. 

Other Territorial Cup points still at stake are in baseball and men's and women's outdoor track.

ASU has won four consecutive Territorial Cup Series undisputed titles.

Extra points

-- ASU's Cairo Leonard-Baker will compete all-around Friday at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships in St. Louis. The Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year qualified for nationals as an individual with a 39.200 score during regionals at Penn State on April 7.

-- ASU's Roberta Liti is the Pac-12 women's golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The senior from Italy has a 4.00 grade point average while double majoring in management and business. 

-- The Pac-12 women's golf championships are Sunday-Tuesday in Seattle. UCLA is No. 1 nationally with Stanford 4, USC 6, Arizona 9, defending NCAA champion ASU 11, Washington 15 and Colorado 25.

-- The Pac-12 men's golf championships are Monday-Wednesday at Rolling Hills Estate, Calif. California is ranked No. 8 nationally with Stanford 17, ASU 22 and USC 23. The Sun Devils won the Thunderbird Invitational last week over No. 24 UNLV, No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 1 Oklahoma State, Arizona and No. 10 Baylor.