The Arizona State Sun Devils run-ruled the McNeese Cowgirls 8-0 on Friday, May 15, in the Bryan-College Station Regional. The Sun Devils advance to the winner’s bracket, while the Cowgirls move to the loser’s bracket.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Meika Lauppe started in the circle for the Sun Devils and immediately ran into trouble, giving up back-to-back singles to Kassidy Chance and Maddie Weeks. Corine Poncho then came up looking to push the momentum further in McNeese’s favor. She singled to left, and it looked like the Cowgirls would load the bases, but Chance was thrown out at home, then Weeks overran third, allowing the Sun Devils to turn an inning-killing double play.
For McNeese, sophomore Maddie Taylor started in the circle. After getting Tanya Windle to ground out, Taylor surrendered back-to-back solo shots to Kaylee Pond and Samantha Swan to give the Sun Devils a 2-0 lead.
Taylor settled back in and forced two more groundouts to get out of the inning.
After settling in with back-to-back scoreless innings, Taylor was hurt again by the long ball. Following a leadoff walk to Brooklyn Ulrich, Tiare Ho-Ching sent one over the left field fence to put the Sun Devils up 4-0.
That would be it for Taylor. Her final line: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 3 HR.
Sophomore Kadence Williams came in for relief.
Williams immediately gave up a single to Williams before recording two quick outs. It looked like she would get the Cowgirls out of the inning without any further damage, but Emily Schepp delivered an RBI single to give Arizona State a 5-0 lead before the inning came to an end.
Williams would not return for the fifth inning. Her final line: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R.
Sophomore Kylei Chapman came in for Williams and gave up a solo home run to the first batter she faced, Ashleigh Mejia. 6-0 Sun Devils.
The ballgame would come to an end only a few batters later. Ho-Ching hit her second home run of the day over the left field wall to give ASU a 7-0 lead. The Sun Devils followed with a single and a walk, setting up Samantha Swan for an RBI single to put the mercy rule into effect.
BIG NUMBER: 4
The Sun Devil bats combined for four home runs against the Cowgirl pitching staff. Six of the Sun Devil runs came off of long balls.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tiare Ho-Ching
The Sophomore out of Long Beach, California had a stellar day at the plate. She went 2 for 3 with 3 RBI.
UP NEXT: McNeese will play UConn at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday May 16th, in an elimination game at Davis Diamond.
