SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- The Arizona State softball team (39-7, 10-5 Pac-12) lost a Pac-12 series for the first time this season with a 6-5 defeat at the hands of Utah (21-24-1, 6-12 Pac-12) in the opener of a doubleheader on Sunday. Sam Parlich saved the Sun Devils from a series sweep, though, with a three-run homer in the top of the seventh in the series finale to secure a 6-4 win.
In the early game Sunday, Utah got on the board early to take control, scoring four runs on four hits. The Utes began by loading the bases after a walk and consecutive singles, and a single, groundout and another single brought in the four runs.
ASU was quick to respond, cutting the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the second via a pinch-hit two-RBI single by Jennifer Soria. Utah extended its lead to 6-2, though, in the second with a pair of RBI singles. At that point, starter Mackenzie Popescue was pulled in favor of Dallas Escobedo.
Bethany Kemp got ASU back within 6-3 in the third after singling and crossing home on a Utah infield fielding error. In the fourth, Cheyenne Coyle smacked her 15th homer of the year, going yard to make it 6-4.
The Devils continued chipping away, making it 6-5 in the fifth when Elizabeth Caporuscio hit a sacrifice fly to score Haley Steele. But that was as close as they'd get.
ASU got the tying run on the third in the seventh but couldn't bring the runner in, giving Utah a second straight win.
Popescue (16-3) took the loss and was charged with six runs in 1 2/3 innings. Escobedo struck out eight in 4 1/3 innings. Kayce Nieto earned the win for Utah, going five innings, while Mariah Ramirez closed out the game for the save.
In the afternoon game, four innings of scoreless ball ensued as the pitchers matched each other out for out. Kemp finally got ASU on the board in the fifth when a single through the right side scored Freeman from second base.
Utah followed up by taking a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the frame, getting back-to-back doubles to make it 1-1, a fielding error that allowed one run to score from third and then a third double to make it 3-1.
The Sun Devils responded, though, as Alix Johnson came through in the top of the sixth with a two-out, two-run homer to tie it 3-3. Not to be outdone, Utah regained the lead 4-3 on a leadoff Kristen Stewart home run to center in the bottom of the inning.
But Parlich's three-run homer in the top of the seventh, the Devils' third of the game, gave ASU the lead and turned out to be the difference.
Dallas Escobedo earned the win, improving to 22-4 on the year.
