ASU softball wins on Coyle's walk-off slam

By foxsports
Published

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cheyenne Coyle hit a walk-off grand slam to give the Arizona State softball team a 5-1 win over Oregon State on Friday in front of a sellout crowd of 2,142.
 
The Sun Devils improved to 33-3 overall and 4-1 in Pac-12 play with the win. Mackenzie Popescue earned the win in the circle and is now 15-0 overall, while Oregon State relief pitcher Amanda Najdek dropped to 1-1 and the Beavers fell to 23-8 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
 
Popescue pitched three innings of perfect ball to start the contest, with Oregon State not getting its first runner until the fourth. It was slow going early for the ASU bats as well, with Tina Andreana pitching a one-hitter until the third, when Bailey Wigness scored unearned during Coyle's at-bat for a 1-0 ASU lead.
 
Oregon State tied it at 1-1 in the fourth, capitalizing on a throwing error that allowed leadoff hitter Dani Gilmore to scamper home from second base.
 
After three ensuing frames each of scoreless play, ASU came up with the big hit in the seventh. Lucy Aubrecht led off with a double to left-center and was followed by Sam Parlich with a single through the left side.
 
Quick changes in the circle for Oregon State saw Najdek leave the game after one batter in the seventh in lieu of Marina Demore. With ASU loading the bases on a walk to Bethany Kemp, Najdek became the pitcher of record, as the go-ahead run represented by Aubrecht stood at third base.
 
And on a 1-0 pitch, Coyle hit her second grand slam of the season and team-best 11th home run to give ASU the win.