This article was originally published on March 5, 2023
Game 1
Arizona State (14-3) beat Michigan State (7-11) 15-2 by mercy rule in an offensive onslaught. The Sun Devils batted around in each of the first two innings. They scored five runs in each of the first three innings.
Senior right fielder Jazmine Hill delivered the big blows in both the first and third innings. She hit a three-RBI double in the first to make it 4-0. She followed that up with a grand slam that bounced off the top of the wall and went over to make it a 15-2 game.
“Obviously I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately so my biggest thing was to trust myself and see the ball,” Hill said. “Just think middle middle and trust my abilities.”
Freshman pitcher Kylee Magee started the game for the Sun Devils. She had a solid first two innings. She got extremely long breaks during the Sun Devils offensive rallies. Magee had a bit of a rough start to the third, and the leash was very short.
Sophomore pitcher Kenzie Brown relieved her and finished the inning before junior pitcher Deborah Jones finished the rest of the game.
“They get better every time they go out there,” ASU coach Megan Bartlett said. “They’re young but they had a day of brilliance. They all have really good stuff. On days we can locate, we’re going to be tough.”
After the Hill grand slam, things moved quickly and the Sun Devils got the 15-2 mercy rule after 4 and a half innings of play.
Game 2
Arizona State beat Boise State (8-11) 8-0 in another mercy rule. It was a pitcher’s duel for most of the game.
Senior second baseman Jazmyn Rollin’s two run mammoth blast that went halfway up the protective screening in right field provided the only runs for either side through the first four and a half innings.
Junior pitcher Mac Osborne was the starter for ASU. She was masterful, giving up just one hit, which was a bunt single in the third. She struck out nine batters, which was half of the batters she faced.
“I was just trying to make pitches and keep them off balance,” Osborne said. “I knew that whatever I threw, my defense behind me was going to get it.”
The offense once again exploded in the bottom of the fifth. Graduate student catcher Gianna Boccagno hit a solo home run to leadoff the inning. Graduate student center fielder Yannira Acuña followed that with a solo homer for herself. Graduate student third baseman Alexa Milius singled, then Rollin hit a frozen rope off the wall for a single.
Senior first baseman Jordyn VanHook then hit her nationally-leading 12th home run of the year, a bomb over the camera stand in center field.
“I tell her how incredible she is all the time and I sit back and watch the show,” Bartlett said. “That is all Jordyn. I tell her every time she hits a home run it makes my heart super happy.”
The eighth and final run needed for the mercy rule was driven in by graduate student Marissa Schuld. She hit a double into the gap to score graduate student Makenna Harper, who walked earlier in the inning, and the Sun Devils had completed their doubleheader sweep.
ASU is 3-1 so far in the Sun Devil Classic. They’ll play an early game against Houston tomorrow to wrap up their weekend before they get ready for the rival Arizona Wildcats next weekend.
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