Softball edges Oregon for victory
Hillary Bach’s seventh complete game shutout of the season coupled with Krista Donnenwirth’s fifth home run of the year lit the fire Sunday afternoon as the No. 9 Sun Devil Softball team topped No. 20 Oregon 3-0 to clinch the series. Bach collected the win to move to 18-4 on the year while ASU improves to 37-10 overall and 6-6 in Pac-10 play. The loss drops the Ducks to 31-10 on the year and 7-5 in conference play.
The effervescent Hillary Bach took to the circle looking for a second win over the Ducks on the weekend and to improve her 17-4 record. Her nemesis, Jessica Moore stepped in for the Ducks, entering the contest with a 13-5 record trying to take the series for the Ducks.
The promise looked bleak for the Ducks from the outset as Bach was ridiculously red-hot, throwing two perfect innings before UO even touched her. Her fellow Devils stepped up to break the ice in the fourth though as a single from Mandy Urfer was brought around by a triple from Caylyn Carlson to run off with a 1-0 lead.
A single from Talor Haro proved to be beneficial for the Sun Devils as a single from Katelyn Boyd and an RBI ground out from Kaylyn Castlllo gave ASU just a bit more cushion with a 2-0 lead.
While the Sun Devil offense wasn’t at maximum capacity, the bats got the job done for ASU as Krista Donnenwirth took a look at a 1-1 pitch only to send it packing over the center field wall to cement ASU’s lead at 3-0. It was all Bach needed as Oregon had nothing against the sophomore righty who cruised to her 18th win of the season and seventh complete game shutout.
The Sun Devils will now hit the road again as they set to fly the friendly skies to the Bay Area next weekend to take on the Stanford Cardinal next Friday through Sunday in Palo Alto, Calif.