ASU SOFTBALL
Macha, Sun Devils sweep South Carolina in super regional
Arizona State softball exploded for four runs in the fifth inning Saturday night on its way to a 5-2 win over South Carolina to advance to the Women’s College World Series.
The Gamecocks (49-17) pulled even at 1-1 in the fourth at Farrington Stadium, only for ASU (48-11) to start the fifth with five consecutive hits, including a bases-loaded double by DeNae Chatman. Skylar McCarty, Kindra Hackbarth and Taylor Becerra singled ahead of Chatman’s big blow to the left-center gap.
“We knew South Carolina was going to scrap until the very end,” ASU second baseman Marisa Stankiewicz said. “We knew we had to outfight them. We wanted it more, and that showed with that big, huge inning after their run.”
ASU swept the best-of-three super regional, winning the first game 5-2 on Friday. The No. 8 national seed Sun Devils are going to Oklahoma City for their first trip to the WCWS since 2013 and 10th time since 1999. They won NCAA titles in 2008 and 2011.
“Nobody would have thought at the beginning of the year that we would be here except for us,” ASU second-year coach Trisha Ford said. “They put in the work. We molded at the right time. This is why I came to ASU, is to get ASU back to the World Series. I’m at a loss for words. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet.”
The Sun Devils will open in the double-elimination nationals against No. 1 seed Oregon, which won its super regional 2-1 over Kentucky. WCWS play begins Thursday, but the exact game schedule is not yet finalized.
Oregon (52-8) took two of three games from ASU during the regular season.
Senior right-hander Breanna Macha worked out of multiple jams, including in the seventh when she hit two batters, bringing the tying run to the plate before a game-ending fly out to center. Macha also pitched five scoreless innings in a regular-season win over South Carolina last season.
Macha and Stankiewicz, fourth- and fifth-year seniors, were especially moved by their final home game ending by punching a long awaited ticket to the WCWS.
“We both grew up watching this program and finally we’re living our dream out,” Macha said.
ASU won its eighth home super regional in as many chances. The Sun Devils are 5-0 this postseason with a combined 28-5 scoring edge.
“Top to bottom, it’s less stressful because we’re all doing so well and seeing the pitches really well,” Stankiewicz said. “If things don’t go your way, I know Mo (Morgan Howe) is going to have my back and do the job for me. That’s something really special to have one through nine, not just one through three or four. I’m excited to see what’s going to happen in OKC.”
Trailing 1-0, South Carolina got on the board in the fourth but only scored once on three hits and an error. Jana Johns chopped a ball in front of the plate that ASU catcher Rylee Matson threw into right field. Johns scored on another infield hit by Alyssa Kumiyama.
With two on and one out, Stankiewicz snared a low liner and Kenzi Maguire grounded out to first base, leaving the game tied
Maston, starting just her sixth game, doubled down the left-field line in the second for her first college hit, advancing Jade Gortarez to third. McCarty singled to right for the first run of the game.
“I was so proud of (Maston),” Ford said. “I’m sure her parents will never forget this day. You could just see it, she was oozing with energy. That’s a bigtime hit against a very good team.”
Kennedy Clark singled leading off the Gamecocks’ second, but the inning fizzled after Johns struck out on a twostrike foul bunt.
South Carolina put two runners on with two outs in the fourth on a Mackenzie Boesel double and hit batter. Macha escaped by getting a groundout.
Both teams had scoring chances in the first without results.
ASU had runners on first and second with one out before a fly out and Becerra getting thrown out trying to steal third. South Carolina had two on with no outs when pitcher Cayla Drotar lined to Macha, who turned a double play then fanned the next batter.