BERKELEY, Calif. -- The second-ranked Arizona State softball team shut out No. 1 California 5-0 on Saturday in the final game of the regular season to avoid a series sweep.
ASU (46-7, 18-4 Pac-12) starter Dallas Escobedo struck out 10 in an impressive performance to improve to 20-4 on the year. Cal (50-4, 21-3 Pac-12) starter Jolene Henderson took just her second loss of the year; she is now 30-2.
The Sun Devils jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, as Sam Parlich and Talor Haro reached on singles and were brought around by a Katelyn Boyd double.
The score remained the same until the top of the seventh, with Escobedo shutting down the Cal bats and allowing her teammates the opportunity to take on some insurance runs. The Sun Devils scored three runs on five hits in the top of the frame, all with two outs. Annie Lockwood plated Haro with a sacrifice fly for the second out to make it 3-0, and Elizabeth Caporuscio followed with an infield single that brought home Boyd. With a 4-0 lead, Amber Freeman brought home Caporuscio with a single and a Cal error to extend the margin to 5-0.
The NCAA announces the softball tournament field at 7 p.m. Sunday, with ASU expected to host a regional.
