In the final game of the Littlewood Classic, the ASU softball team put together an impressive offensive performance to rout Illinois State 14-3 in five innings Sunday afternoon.
The Sun Devils are now 10-2 overall after finishing the weekend 5-0 in their second home tournament.
Dallas Escobedo earned her third win of the season (3-1) by going five innings striking out seven. Offensively, nine ASU players recorded hits. Amber Freeman led the way, going 2 for 3 with three RBIs and one run scored.
ASU recorded the first run of the game in the bottom of the second on a solo shot by Annie Lockwood to left-center, her third homer of the year. Illinois State answered in the top of the second, as Elizabeth Kay led off with a solo shot to center to tie it at 1-1, and then took a brief 2-1 lead when Sara Bradley brought around Laura Canopy on a single.
What came next was a seven-hit, 11-run showcase in the bottom of the second by the Devils. ASU batted around in the frame, with three players scoring twice and Haley Steele tallying her second home run on the year, a two-run shot to center.
Up 12-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth, ASU some added insurance with a two-run double by Bethany Kemp that scored Alix Johnson and Nikole Afusia. In its final at-bat due to the mercy rule, Illinois State tacked on a run via a Lauren Kellar homer to left center.
Jordan Birch (4-2) toook the loss after going just 1 2/3 innings in the circle. Sophia Perez and Megan Warner also saw time in the circle; Warner recorded Illinois State’s five strikeouts on the day.
