TEMPE, Ariz. – The fourth-ranked Arizona State softball team defeated the Drake University softball team 8-0, Thursday night at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium.
Arizona State loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning against Drake starter Mariah McKinnon (Oxford, Iowa) and Elizabeth Caporuscio's double to deep right field cleared the bases to take an early 3-0 lead.
McKinnon took the loss to drop to 0-3 on the season as junior Rebekah Schmidt (Cottage Grove, Minn.) finished the game in relief. Schmidt pitched 4.2 innings and allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits.
Dallas Escobedo started for the Sun Devils and was dominant in the circle, striking out the first six batters she faced before the Bulldogs put a ball in play. Escobedo pitched five innings for ASU, and struck out 10 while surrendering just one hit. Amber Freeman was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three runs batted in for the Sun Devils. Caporuscio was also 3-for-3 with three RBI.
Senior Liz Buck (Overland Park, Kan.) had the Bulldogs' lone hit in the game, breaking up Escobedo's perfect game bid in the third inning.
The Sun Devils improved to 12-0 this season with the win, while Drake falls to 0-10.
The Diamond Devil Invitational begins tomorrow for Drake in the desert with matchups against Idaho State and Boston College. Game times are scheduled for 2:30 and 5 p.m. CST, respectively.
