Arizona and Arizona State both gave their opponent chances in the opening round of the Big 12 Softball Tournament. Both pitchers worked around those chances for the most part. ASU got out of the scrapes a few more times than Arizona to take the 2-1 win and move on to the semifinals against Oklahoma State.
The final inning was a microcosm of the highs and lows of the game for the Wildcats. Their final at-bats came with ASU leading by a run. Arizona needed to calm down and do what it has done all year.
Score.
A deep fly to centerfield by Jenna Sniffen to start the inning could have been deflating, but Lucas singled to put the tying run on base with one out.
Addison Duke came through with her first walk since Apr. 6 at Iowa State. Arizona had two on with one out.
Regan Shockey looked very much like herself after a 2-for-9 series at Utah last weekend. Her single loaded the bases with one out. It was her third hit in four at-bats.
Trice stepped into the box in a big moment. Two innings before, she got anxious and struck out after getting into a 3-1 count with Shockey on base. This time, she took a ball, then swung at the next two. Two swinging strikes on high ones were sandwiched around a foul. Another strikeout.
It was all down to Big 12 Player of the Year Sydney Stewart. She took two balls, then ASU took a visit to the circle. Stewart swung at the next one. It was a harmless fly to right field. Game over.
ASU got on the board first. What looked like a throwing error by Tayler Biehl scored a two-out run by Emily Schepp in the second inning.
Schepp led off with a double, but Wildcat starter Jalen Adams got two quick outs. Yazzy Avila hit what might have been a single, but Biehl’s throw to first ended up well in foul territory, allowing the former Arizona catcher to score.
Ultimately, it didn’t matter whether it was an earned or unearned run. They both count for the same on the scoreboard.
The Sun Devils returned the favor in the bottom of the inning, allowing Kez Lucas to reach on a two-out throwing error that put runners on the corners. Arizona couldn’t take advantage.
The Wildcats squandered an even bigger opportunity in the bottom of the third. This time, Shockey reached third base with one out courtesy of a throwing error by ASU ace Kenzie Brown. Arizona just needed a sac fly to tie the game and Stewart was up to bat.
Stewart had a solid at-bat her first time up against Brown. She hit one far to left field, but she was a little bit in front of it. It turned into a long out.
This time, Stewart seemed out of sorts. She took the first strike, then swung at the next two. The final strike was an excuse-me swing at a ball well outside the zone.
Grace Jenkins picked her team up with a solo shot to tie the game in the top of the fourth, but it was the only run Arizona would get.
Arizona hitters continued to press. In the fifth, Duke continued her struggles. A strikeout sent her back to the dugout for the second time in the game.
Duke’s difficulties stretch back a month. Starting with the LSU series on Apr. 10, she has 5 hits in 23 at-bats for a .217 average over 12 games. Arizona will need her to get back on track in the postseason. Her walk in the seventh could be fuel to get her going again.
Shockey reached base for the second time in the game, but Sereniti Trice struck out after getting into a 3-1 count then chasing some pitches out of the zone. Stewart sent a long fly to centerfield, but it wasn’t long enough. Inning over and game still tied after five.
More futility for both teams brought them to the seventh still knotted at one run apiece. A leadoff solo shot by Brooklyn Ulrich gave ASU the lead. Arizona fought to load the bases in the bottom of the inning, but couldn’t push a run across.
Adams threw a complete game. She gave up two earned runs on seven hits, two walks, and a hit batter. Three of the seven hits went for extra bases, including two doubles and a home run.
ASU’s Brown gave up one earned run on five hits, a walk, and a hit batter. Only one of the five hits went for extra bases.
The Wildcats will now come home and await their postseason fate. It’s almost assured that they will not host regionals.
The NCAA selection show will be on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. MST on Sunday, May 10.
