Sunday, February 11
Tempe, AZ
1:30 PM ET
Indiana University
1
at
2
Arizona State
Hoosiers Fall to No. 23 Arizona State in Kajikawa Classic, 2-1
2/11/2018 6:01:00 PM | Softball
TEMPE, Ariz. – Indiana Softball battled No. 23 Arizona State in Sunday's Kajikawa Classic, but ultimately fell to the Sun Devils, 2-1.
Junior pitcher Tara Trainer had another solid outing in the circle, tossing a complete game and allowing just six hits and two runs while striking out six.
"Our pitching was definitely a bright spot," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "You look at this game on the third day of the tournament – Tara Trainer giving us a shot to win the ballgame here at ASU against a top-25 team."
The game was also marked by a couple impressive defensive gems, highlighted by sophomore Gabbi Jenkins' incredible catch to get the second out of the second frame. Jenkins ran back to the warning track and snagged the ball against the wall in right field.
After a quiet two innings from the bats of both teams, Arizona State's Kindra Hackbarth singled to lead off the third inning before advancing two bases on a sacrifice bunt by Jade Gortarez. An RBI single from Morgan Howe plated Hackbarth to give the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead.
The Hoosiers looked to answer as Blitz earned the first IU hit of the day as she beat out a bunt to start the fourth inning. Jenkins successfully moved her over on a sacrifice bunt, however a flyout and groundout ended the threat.
Howe once again delivered for Arizona State in the fifth, as she sent a two-out double to left center to score Gortarez, who had reached on a single before advancing to third base on a wild pitch.
IU quickly got that run back as freshman Makayla Ferrari led off the sixth with her first career homer on a shot to right.
Trainer sent Arizona State down in order in the sixth to keep the game at 2-1, however the Hoosiers couldn't get anything going in the seventh to close the gap.
IU returns to action next weekend as the Hoosiers travel to Atlanta, Ga. There, Indiana will play a pair of games against both Georgia Tech and Boston College as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
Junior pitcher Tara Trainer had another solid outing in the circle, tossing a complete game and allowing just six hits and two runs while striking out six.
"Our pitching was definitely a bright spot," said head coach Shonda Stanton. "You look at this game on the third day of the tournament – Tara Trainer giving us a shot to win the ballgame here at ASU against a top-25 team."
The game was also marked by a couple impressive defensive gems, highlighted by sophomore Gabbi Jenkins' incredible catch to get the second out of the second frame. Jenkins ran back to the warning track and snagged the ball against the wall in right field.
After a quiet two innings from the bats of both teams, Arizona State's Kindra Hackbarth singled to lead off the third inning before advancing two bases on a sacrifice bunt by Jade Gortarez. An RBI single from Morgan Howe plated Hackbarth to give the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead.
The Hoosiers looked to answer as Blitz earned the first IU hit of the day as she beat out a bunt to start the fourth inning. Jenkins successfully moved her over on a sacrifice bunt, however a flyout and groundout ended the threat.
Howe once again delivered for Arizona State in the fifth, as she sent a two-out double to left center to score Gortarez, who had reached on a single before advancing to third base on a wild pitch.
IU quickly got that run back as freshman Makayla Ferrari led off the sixth with her first career homer on a shot to right.
Trainer sent Arizona State down in order in the sixth to keep the game at 2-1, however the Hoosiers couldn't get anything going in the seventh to close the gap.
IU returns to action next weekend as the Hoosiers travel to Atlanta, Ga. There, Indiana will play a pair of games against both Georgia Tech and Boston College as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
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