Arizona State Softball headed into their first of a Saturday doubleheader on the final day of the Littlewood Classic against the Memphis Tigers. ASU entered the contest 4-3 on the year while the Tigers were still searching for their first win on the season.
The Sun Devils took care of business, ultimately securing a 13-5 win.
The Tigers turned to sophomore pitcher Rylee Dugar who in three starts carried an ERA of 12.38. The Sun Devils countered with freshman Meika Lauppe. The freshman had two previous appearances this season, but this would be her first collegiate start.
Lauppe struggled out of the gate with command issues walking a pair of batters. The hungry Tigers were able to capitalize on timely hitting from Maddison Berner and Zoe Adebayo.
Memphis was also aggressive on the basepaths confusing the Sun Devils leading to them putting up three runs on two hits in the inning.
In the bottom half Dugar recorded her first and last out on Sun Devil leadoff hitter Tanya Windle as the ASU bats caught fire. The Sun Devils sprayed the ball around the field chasing Dugar after only a third of an inning giving up eight runs on six hits including Alesia Denby’s fourth home run of the year.
The Sun Devils would add two more runs off freshman Abigail Morgan to hang a ten spot on the Tigers.
“Our big thing right now is scoring every inning, and even if we are ahead,” said senior third baseman Kayla Lissy.
The big inning allowed Lauppe to settle in as she found her groove. She got herself out of some third-inning adversity stranding two runners and striking out Memphis sophomore right fielder Kelsie Adams to end the inning.
In her first collegiate start, Lauppe threw a complete game throwing 87 pitches giving up five runs on ten hits and striking out three batters.
On the flip side Tigers pitcher Abigail Morgan couldn’t quite stop the bleeding as she gave up five runs through 3.2 innings.
With the Sun Devils up 13-5 in the top of the fifth Memphis tried to muster a rally but with two out junior pinch hitter E’mya Munford hit one into shallow left with freshman catcher Francesca Lumpp heading home senior left fielder Audrey Leclair threw a bullet home to end the game.
“We really saw the strike zone and didn’t chase out of the strike zone, when you score 10 in the first inning, it relaxes a little bit,” said ASU assistant coach Jimmy Kolaitis.
The Sun Devils were on cruise control after that big first inning earning their second five-inning victory in of the Littlewood Classic. After the back half of the doubleheader
ASU will have a mid-week doubleheader against UTEP at Farrington Stadium.
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