College Softball News

Arizona State Softball Shuts out Michigan

Arizona State Softball

Courtesy of Arizona State Athletics

FULLERTON, Calif. — The No, 22/23 Arizona State University softball team rode the long ball on Thursday, using an Amber Freeman walk-off home run in extra innings to take down No. 3/2 Michigan before hitting two multi-RBI bombs against host Fullerton to open the 2015 Judi Garman Classic with two wins.

The Sun Devils picked up their first win over a team ranked in the national top-three since 2008 with the Michigan victory while true freshman pitcher Breanna Macha shut out the Wolverines in a regular season game for the first sime since April of last season. ASU improved to 17-7 on the season with the victories.

The Devils return to action tomorrow against No. 9/10 Baylor at 12:30 p.m. PT.  Fans are also encouraged to tune in and interact with the ASU Softball live blog, which will be operating throughout the weekend to keep fans in the loop.

Recaps from the today’s action can be found below.

ASU 2, Michigan 0 (8)

Amber Freeman hit a two-run walk-off home run and true freshman pitcher Breanna Macha pitched a five-hit shutout as the No. 22/23 Arizona State University softball team defeated No. 3/2 Michigan, 2-0, in extra innings Thursday to open the 2015 Judi Garman Classic.

Freeman was the leadoff batter in the bottom of the eighth with Haley Steele on second due to international tiebreaker rules. Freeman brought Steele home the best way she knows how and took the first pitch she saw over the wall in left field for her team-leading seventh home run this year and giving ASU it’s second extra inning victory of the season.

The Devils struggled to contain the potent Michigan offense last weekend at the Louisville Slugger Invitational, giving up 13 runs in two games on 23 hits and six home runs in two losses at home to the Wolverines (19-2).

The change of scenery seemed to help on Thursday as Macha, playing away from home for the first time in her young career, held Michigan scoreless for the first time this season to improve to 8-4 on the year.

Michigan had not been shut out in the regular season since April 18 of last season (against Minnesota) and entered the game averaging 9.8 runs per game in its last 12 games with six run-rule victories in that span.

It was Macha who held the edge over the season Michigan squad for most of the day, however, striking out five and walking just one in the five-hit shutout.

Macha retired the first nine Michigan batters in order in the contest before allowing Sierra Lawrence’s leadoff single in the top of the fourth. A quick double play ended that threat and the frosh wasn’t challenged again until the sixth inning.

A one-out, bunt single by Abby Ramirez and a single by Lawrence put runners on first and second with just one out in the frame. Lawrence was put on a Kelly Christner fielder’s choice to put runners on the corners with two outs but Macha walked All-American Sierra Romero to bring up UM cleanup hitter Tera Blanco with the bases juiced.

The freshman helped her cause, throwing Blanco out at first on a grounder back to her to end the threat.

Macha would put the next three batters down in order in the top of the seventh, giving ASU a chance to win the game in regulation in the bottom half of the inning and threaten then did.

A Elizabeth Caporuscio leadoff double was followed by a Bethany Kemp walk and a Nikki Girard single to load the bases with no outs and the top of the order coming to the plate.

A pop-up to catcher by Sierra Rodriguez – who had her 20-game reached base streak snapped in the contest – was followed by an Abby Spiel strikeout and a Haley Steele popout to shortstop and ASU was unable to bring anyone home, forcing some free softball.

With the international tiebreaker in place, Macha was placed in a jam right out the gates as UM started with a runner on second that was quickly advanced to third on a Lindsay Montemarano sacrifice bunt. But Ramirez grounded out harmlessly to Kemp at first base for the second out to bring up the ever dangerous Sierra Lawrence, the USA Softball National College Player of the Week who entered the at-bat hitting 6-for-10 with three home runs against the Devils in the three games they’ve played this season.

Macha responded in kind to the pressure, forcing Lawrence to fly out to right to give ASU its second chance at a walk-off victory.

And it was Amber Freeman obliged those in attendance by eliminated the drama on the first pitch she saw, giving ASU its fourth true walk-off victory of the season.

The victory was significant as it marked the first time an ASU team had defeated a non-conference opponent ranked in the top-three nationally since taking down No. 3 Alabama at the 2008 Women’s College World Series.

With the win, ASU now has two victories over teams ranked in the top five nationally this season after defeated then-No. 4/4 Oklahoma earlier this season – also on a walk-off.

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