The fifth inning proved to be one to forget for Arizona State (25-14 overall, 7-7 Big 12), who conceded six runs to the Kansas Jayhawks (17-16 overall, 4-7 Big 12) in one frame. It ultimately led to the Maroon and Gold falling in Saturday’s thumping 8-0 loss at Farrington Stadium.
ASU head coach Megan Bartlett’s side entered the game having beaten the Jayhawks less than 24 hours prior in a 6-1 victory. Yet, the Sun Devils entered not having won two consecutive games in nine tries, while Kansas looked to level the series going into the final game on Sunday afternoon.
The Devils also came in having outscored their opponents 62-35 in the opening two innings this season. However, unlike yesterday’s affair, in which ASU jumped out to a 6-1 lead in two innings, both teams held each other scoreless early.
“We need to do a better job on capitalizing on mistakes,” Bartlett said after the game. “It’s not rocket science. We just got to execute it.”
The deadlock broke in the third inning when Kansas took a one-run lead. A single from senior right-handed pitcher Olivia Bruno allowed junior outfielder Presley Limbaugh to score from second base, putting the Jayhawks up 1-0 lead.
ASU’s first hit of the game came in the fourth inning when freshman outfielder Ashleigh Mejia singled into center field. But the Sun Devils couldn’t make it count, as two straight-outs followed.
The floodgates opened in the next inning for Kansas when ASU freshman right-handed pitcher Julianne Tipton replaced sophomore right-handed pitcher Meika Lauppe on the circle.
Bartlett’s decision backfired as the Jayhawks wasted no time testing the freshman. They hit three singles in a row and loaded the bases after junior infielder Hailey Cripe reached base on a bunt. The following pitch saw the ball fly over the head of sophomore catcher Samantha Swan, allowing Limbaugh to score on a wild pitch.
Yet, it didn’t end there. A three-run home run from sophomore utility Anna Soles further worsened the Sun Devils’ situation and gave the Jayhawks a five-run advantage.
“(Tipton) has had a couple of really good outings until tonight,” Bartlett said. “Certainly when you make those calls, you don’t plan for anybody coming in and immediately give it up. It’s back to youth again.”
Sophomore infielder September Flanagan extended Kansas’ lead by hitting a solo home run into center field — her third home run of the season. Then, junior infielder Emma Tatum doubled into center field to add another runner on the board for the visitors. In just one inning, the Jayhawks went from a 1-0 advantage to a commanding 6-0 lead.
Kansas added an eighth run to the scoreboard in the following inning through another single RBI by Bruno. The Sun Devils could only muster four hits throughout the game, a stark contrast to the Jayhawks’ joint-second-season-high 14 hits.
Bartlett’s team returns Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the final game of the three-game series against the Jayhawks.
“Come out swinging, fight for what you want,” Bartlett said on what is needed for tomorrow’s clash. “When they go down that rabbit hole, it’s typically more mental and emotional than anything, and that’s when the youth continues to show up and bite us.”
“They (ASU) need to come looking for a fight tomorrow. With a little bit of a chip on their shoulder.”
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