Second-ranked softball closes out historic sweep of Arizona

Fueled with an eight strikeout outing from Dallas Escobedo and home runs from Krista Donnenwirth and Annie Lockwood, the No. 2 Arizona State Softball Team capped a historic weekend with a 8-3 win over in-state rival, No. 7 Arizona. The win marks the first sweep over Arizona in Tucson in program history and only fourth win since the construction of Hllenbrand Stadium in 1993. Escobedo improves to 21-3 on the year as ASU moves to 42-5 overall and 9-3 in Pac-10 play while Arizona drops to 36-11 overall and 7-5 in Pac-10 play.

The Sun Devil offense got in the zone early on in the game as a lead-off single from Katelyn Boyd and a walk to Kaylyn Castillo proved to be costly as Krista Donnenwith took a 2-2 pitch and teed-off on it with a home run to left field to immediately make it 3-0.

The Wildcats showed some life though in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single through the right side by Bridgette Del Ponte, but Escobedo settled down and put the screws in to keep the ‘Cats at bay through the next five innings.

The offensive assault wasn’t done yet for ASU though as Annie Lockwood brought a couple of friends home in the fifth, taking a 3-1 pitch yard to left center and make it 6-1. UA answered in the bottom of the inning with a home run of their own as Brittany Lastrapes crushed a two-run shot to make it 6-3.

The Sun Devils put the icing on the cake in the sixth though with RBI hits from Lesley Rogers and Kaylyn Castillo to pull it to 8-3 where it would find it’s final resting place as Escobedo closed out ASU’s 42nd win of the year and a historic sweep in program history.

The Sun Devils return home this week as Pac-10 play continues with Oregon State rolling into town for a three game series Friday-Sunday in Tempe at Farrington Stadium.