TEMPE, Ariz. -- The seventh-ranked Arizona State softball team (3-0) routed North Carolina State (0-4) 9-1 in five innings Friday night.
Senior pitcher Dallas Escobedo gave up her first run of the season in the second inning on a solo shot, but the Sun Devils answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning and never looked back.
Second baseman Nikki Girard hit an RBI single to center to score Elizabeth Caporuscio from third base, and after a walk by Bailey Wigness, Thursday night hero Cheyenne Coyle doubled in both Girard and Wigness.
"I love the fact that we gave up a run in the second inning and then we answered back right away," ASU coach Craig Nicholson said after the game. "That's the mentality that we're striving for."
Escobedo dominated the Wolfpack from that point, striking out eight and giving up only two hits in five innings pitched.
Junior Bethany Kemp went 2 for 3 and led the Sun Devils with three RBIs, including a two-run home run -- her first of the year -- to left-center in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 5-1.
Eight of the nine Sun Devil batters had at least one hit, and all nine reached base at least once.
Nicholson was impressed with the lineup's performance from top to bottom.
"I think what you're going to see from this team is different people performing on different days," Nicholson said.
Alix Johnson scored the final run on Haley Steele's fielder's choice in the bottom of the fifth inning, ending the game on the run rule and giving the Sun Devils their third win of the season.
