No. 4 softball secures a trip to Super Regionals with 2-0 win over Georgia

Fourth ranked and fifth-seeded Arizona State softball (48-10) advanced to the Super Regionals of the NCAA Softball Tournament next weekend, after eliminating Georgia in a 2-0 decision in the NCAA Tempe Regional at Farrington Stadium on Sunday.

The Sun Devils will host No. 19 Kentucky in the NCAA Super Regionals starting at 7 p.m. PT, May 25, on ESPN2. Game two of the Super Regional will be at 2 p.m. PT on May 26 on ESPN. If necessary, game three would be at 5 p.m. PT, May 26 and on ESPN2. All games in the Tempe Super Regional are available for free on WatchESPN.com.

Dallas Escobedo (28-4) put forth yet another admirable effort, improving to 3-0 on the weekend behind another complete game, holding Georgia (40-21) scoreless for the second consecutive game. Escobedo gave up just three hits with five strikeouts and no walks in seven innings of play. With the win, Escobedo becomes second all-time at ASU in career victories with 89.

Starting pitcher Chelsea Wilkinson (8-6) took the loss for the Bulldogs, giving up two runs in one inning of play. Georgia brought in Morgan Montemayor who finished off the final six innings with no runs scored.

The Sun Devils put two runs on the board in the first inning and that would prove to be the only offense they needed as Escobedo put the team on her back and carried them to an unblemished run through the Tempe Regional.

ASU drew first blood in the first as Alix Johnson reached on a walk and advanced on a stolen base. After a fly out by Cheyenne Coyle, Amber Freeman continued her torrid postseason with a high fly ball that dropped squarely in between the Georgia shortstop and center fielder and scored Johnson in the process.

Haley Steele followed that with a line drive double down the left field line that plated Freeman to give ASU the early 2-0 lead.

That would prove to be it for the scoring as Georgia replaced Wilkinson with Montemayor to start the second inning and the junior totally shut down the Sun Devils for the remainder of the game. Montemayor gave up just four hits with no walks and no runs in six inning of action.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Escobedo threw her best again, dominating the strike zone and controlling the game. The junior has now pitched 31 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run, the last coming in the third inning of ASU's May 9 victory over Oregon. In three games this weekend, Escobedo gave up just five hits.

NOTES
ASU is now 81-47 in the NCAA Tournament. Holding a 28-3 record at Farrington Stadium under Clint Myers.

ASU has advanced to the Super Regionals the past eight consecutive years, since 2006, all under head coach Clint Myers.

All of ASU's WCWS appearances (6) under Myers have come after hosting a Super Regional in Tempe. Lone year without an appearance was 2010.

The two stolen bases on Sunday are the first pair since ASU stole two on March 29 against Oregon State and the first stolen base since May 4 at Arizona.

ASU is 23-2 when scoring in the first inning. The Sun Devils are also 41-4 when scoring first.

ASU has 124 two-out RBI on the season, compared to just 47 for opponents.

Dallas Escobedo's win is her 89th of her career, ranking her second all-time in ASU history for victories.

Bailey Wigness is hitting a team best .667 in the postseason, with four hits, two runs and a .714 on-base percentage. ASU is out hitting opponents 20-4 in the postseason.

IN THE POSTSEASON
Myers: 51-13; 28-3 at home in postseason
ASU: 81-47
Escobedo: 17-4; 3-0 in 2013
Popescue: 0-0; 0-0 in 2013

TEMPE REGIONAL RESULTS
Friday, May 17, 2013
Game 1: 12:30 p.m. PT - San Diego State (35-18) vs. Georgia (38-19)
Game 2: 3 p.m. PT - San Jose State (42-15) at No. 4 Arizona State (45-10)

Saturday, May 18, 2013
Game 3: 3 p.m. PT - Georgia (39-19) vs. No. 4 Arizona State (46-10)
Game 4: 5:30 p.m. PT - SDSU (35-19) vs. SJSU (42-16)
Game 5: 8 p.m. PT - Georgia (39-20) and SDSU (36-19)

Sunday, May 19, 2013
Game 6: 3 p.m. PT - Arizona State (47-10) and Georgia (40-20)

Arizona State (48-10) advances to Super Regional round.

San Jose State eliminated Saturday. Final record 42-17
San Diego State eliminated Saturday. Final record 36-20
Georgia eliminated Sunday. Final record 40-21