Softball plays host to UCLA
The No. 7/5 Arizona State softball team squares off against the No. 13/12 UCLA Bruins this weekend in their third consecutive series against a Top 25-ranked opponent.
Thursday and Saturday's games will be on TV on Fox Sports Arizona. Check local listings for the channel.
The Sun Devils (32-4, 4-1 Pac-12) are set to play three games starting Thursday versus the Bruins, who are 25-7 with a 2-1 conference record thus far. Thursday and Friday night's games are slated for a 7 p.m. start, while Saturday's game is set for 12 p.m., all times local.
FOLLOW THE SUN DEVILS LIVE | Blaze Radio Link
Starting this weekend, The Blaze 1330 AM will stream all home softball games on their LiveStream channel, which can be found here. Live statistics and play-by-play action will be provided on Gametracker, the links to which are available on the softball schedule page here. Free audio will also be provided on UCLA's GameCentral web site here.
PREVIOUSLY FOR THE DEVILS
Arizona State is fresh off of a rainy weekend in Eugene, where they faced the then-No. 17 Oregon Ducks. After a rain delay pushed Friday's game to Saturday, the Devils split a doubleheader, dropping the first game 3-0 then coming back to win the second 7-4. Sunday's game was cancelled due to weather.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS | UCLA Website
No. 13/12 UCLA also visited the northwest to face Oregon State in their first conference three-game series. The weekend saw the Bruins go 2-1, including a five-inning shut out against the Beavers. Nationally, the Bruins are top in batting average (.375) and slugging percentage (.628), and are in the top ten in runs per game (2nd - 7.75), hone runs per game (4th - 1.53), and doubles per game (5th - 1.75). Freshman infielder Stephany LaRosa leads the squad in batting average with a clip of .436, having started all 32 games thus far this season. Sophomore pitcher Jessica Hall leads the bullpen with a 2.00 ERA on a 12-4 record.
DEVILS IN THE RANKINGS
The Devils continue to lead the Pac-12 in runs batted in (250) and home runs (53), and is third in batting average at a cumulative .340. Senior shortstop Katelyn Boyd is now 12th nationally and fourth in the conference in batting average, hitting at .448 after starting all 36 games, one of three players on the squad to do so. Senior pitcher Hillary Bach comes in at 14th nationally in ERA at 1.13 on a 15-0 record, her 15 victories tying her for 23rd.
VOTE FOR BOYD FOR THE LOWE'S SENIOR CLASS AWARD | Vote Here
Ten NCAA® softball student-athletes who excel both on and off the field were selected as finalists today for the 2012 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Katelyn Boyd has been chosen as one of the 2012 finalist. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition. Vote for Katelyn here.
KETCHUM IN PAC-12 SPORTSWATCH | Story Here
Catch up with junior Kayla Ketchum and what it's like to wear the ASU uniform in Pac-12 SportsWatch's article from Steve Mack about Arizona State softball's traditions. The article can be found here.
ESCOBEDO WINS INAUGRAL PITCHFORK AWARD | 
Photo Gallery
Dallas Escobedo won the first-ever Pitchfork Award for Outstanding Student-Athlete (NCAA) as chosen by Arizona State University officials on Tuesday night. The Pitchfork Awards recognie the wide variety of outstanding work done throughout the year at ASU. Awards cover all of the university life at ASU including: clubs and organizations, athletics, ommunity service, leadership and governance, social entrepreneurship, etc. Other finalist with Escobedo included: Elina Eggers, Swimming/Diving; Beate Jones, Gymnastics; Jamie Sandys, Track and Field.