Softball sweeps California with 5-3 win Sunday

A 5-3 win against California on Sunday gave Arizona State softball its second Pac-12 sweep of the season. Dallas Escobedo picked up her 24th win of the year on 11 strikeouts and closer Mackenzie Popescue got her second save.

The Sun Devils (42-7, 13-5 Pac-12) rallied for a 5-3 victory to overcome a California (35-12, 9-9 Pac-12) squad that out-hit ASU 7-5. Dallas Escobedo improves to 24-4, garnering her second win of the weekend. Nisa Ontiveros took the loss for California, dropping her to 4-3.

Continuing the streak of scoring in the first frame, Bethany Kemp got Arizona State on the scoreboard, 1-0, with a sacrifice fly to center that plated Cheyenne Coyle in a bases -loaded, one-out situation.

Despite Escobedo fanning three Cal batters in the top of the second, the Golden Bears took a 2-1 lead behind two solo-homers. Breana Kostreba smacked one to left and Vanessa Alvarez followed two batters later with one to right.

The California lead, its first of the series, was brief due in part to a pair of miscues in the bottom of the third that ASU took advantage of and converted into four runs. Alix Johnsoncame in on a passed ball to tie it 2-2. Coyle followed in the next at-bat for the lead. Kemp and Sam Parlich finished it off, 5-2, after scoring during Nikki Girard's at-bat.  All runs in the frame went unearned.  

Following three complete innings of scoreless ball, California managed one run in the top of the seventh to pit the game at 5-3. The run came off a single through the left side by Britt Vonk. Popescue and the ASU defense picked up the final two outs of the frame for the victory and the closer's second save of the season.

UP NEXT
Softball travels down to Arizona for three Territorial Cup games on the Pac-12 Network starting at 6 p.m. PT on Friday, May 3. Saturday's game is also 6 p.m. PT and the series concludes at 3 p.m. PT Sunday. 

NOTES
ASU is 38-2 when scoring first, 20-2 when scoring in first inning. 

ASU is 13-5 against ranked teams in 2013.

Clint Myers is now 13-11 against California, 7-5 at home.

Clint Myers now has a winning record against all Pac-12 teams since he was hired in 2006.

Remaining Softball TV Schedule
May 3 at Arizona 6 p.m. PT Pac-12 Network
May 4 at Arizona 6 p.m. PT Pac-12 Network
May 5 at Arizona 3 p.m. PT Pac-12 Network
May 10 vs. Oregon 5 p.m. PT Pac-12 Network
May 11 vs. Oregon 5 p.m. PT Pac-12 Network