TEMPE, Ariz. — On paper, the Arizona State softball
team and its opponent in this weekend's Super Regional, No.14 seed
Louisiana-Lafayette, look quite similar.
The Ragin' Cajuns (52-4) come to Tempe as the nation's top scoring team with
8.09 runs per game, while the Sun Devils (49-8) rank third with 7.05 runs. Both
team's rank top five in batting average and top 10 in homers per game. In the circle, ULL sports a 2.12 ERA behind a
pair of solid pitchers, while ASU's duo boasts a 2.05.
With such a similar opponent and seemingly even matchup, ASU's "all
in" mentality could be the difference in a series that will send one team
on to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
"When you get teams that are equal, a lot of times the intangibles come
into play," ASU coach Clint Myers said. "We've just got to go out and
do the things we know how to do: Never say die, never quit, never give
in."
For a perfect demonstration of that approach, one only needs to look at last
weekend's Regional Final. Senior first baseman Annie Lockwood took a cleat to
her left shin while trying to catch a runner off base. When she rolled down her
sock she saw a gash that would require seven stitches after the game.
It didn't matter. Lockwood wasn't leaving the game. Bleeding into her sock the
final three innings, Lockwood even legged out a fielder's choice the next
inning. It doesn't seem like a big deal to her now, as she didn't see any other
option but to remain in the game.
"We have a mindset of 'We're going to leave it on the field,'" Myers
said. "Especially the seniors. There is no tomorrow. There is no next
year."
Added star shortstop Katelyn Boyd: "Our coaches embed that in us. We all
want to play. Whether we're bleeding or broken, we all want to be in the
game."
It's with that mindset that the Sun Devils approach Thursday's series opener at
Farrington Stadium. Sure, it's a best-of-3 series, but ASU is treating each
game like it could be the last. That's to say the "all in"
mentality applies to every single game.
Thursday won't be the first time this season the two teams have met. They faced
off in Fullerton, Calif., at the Judi Garman Classic in March, with ULL routing
ASU 9-2 in what was only ASU's third loss of the season.
In that meeting, the Ragin' Cajuns battered ASU hurler Dallas Escobedo for five
runs in four innings. The sophomore Escobedo gets the ball Thursday, confident
she'll see much better results.
"I wasn't my best at all against them," Escobedo said. "I'm
excited to redeem myself. We're just a totally different team now than we were
then."
Boyd echoed the sentiment, noting the team is more locked in and focused now
than at any point in the regular season. Myers has always stressed playing the
best softball this time of year, and that's typically the case for ASU.
"They got us the first time," Boyd said of ULL. "It's nice that
we're familiar with them. When we broke (the March game) down, it kind of could
have gone either way. They had some timely hitting, and we had balls that we
just missed.
"None of us are really worried about that first game. We're a completely
different team than we were, and I'm sure they are too. I think it will be two
new teams playing each other."
Myers pointed to the fact that ASU's lineup features three freshmen and two
sophomores as further evidence of the team's growth since the first contest
with ULL. Those players, he said, since have 23 more collegiate games under
their belt, helping them better understand the game and themselves.
It's likely ASU will see ULL freshman Jordan Wallace (26-1, 2.10 ERA) in the
opener. In March, she held ASU to two runs on five hits. But the Ragin' Cajuns
have an option with a second ace in senior Ashley Brignac, who is 23-3 with a
2.02 ERA on the season.
ASU similarly has a strong second option in senior Hillary Bach, who is 20-1
with a 1.62 ERA this year. Escobedo comes into the series 22-5 with a 2.28 ERA.
Escobedo pitched three of ASU's four games in last weekend's regional, and
Myers said the starting pitchers in this series will be determined on a
game-to-game basis.
The similarities between ASU and ULL, on paper or otherwise, can only go so far
in predicting how the series will play out. As Myers said, it's the intangibles
that become the difference. One more working in ASU's favor: Experience. This
time last year, ASU was on a flawless run to a national championship. ULL lost
in a regional round.
"We have the experience," Myers said. "But the experience is
only as good as we play. We know what we have to do. It's one of those things
where now it's time to stop talking about it and do it."
Thursday's series opener begins at 7 p.m. PT and will air on ESPN2.
BOYD HUMBLED BY LATEST HONOR
Boyd, a two-time All-American who has garnered about every honor a collegiate
softball player can, is one step closer to the another award after being named
a top three finalist for the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the
Year Award on Wednesday.
"It's very humbling and encouraging," Boyd said. "Just to be
recognized again for the gifts that I've been given and the talent that I have,
it's a reminder to me why I play the game."
Boyd, a Phoenix native, joins California senior pitcher/first baseman Valerie
Arioto and Oklahoma junior pitcher Keilani Ricketts as a finalist for the
award, which is presented by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America
and USA Softball. Boyd was also a top-three finalist last season.
"I thought she was the best player last year and I believe she's the best
player this year," Myers said. "She's just a phenomenal young lady
that's deserving of every award she's got."
