Washington Shuts Outs Arizona State In Doubleheader, Earns Series Sweep

Sunday, March 19

Seattle, Wash.

10:00 AM

University of Washington

23-3, 0

Arizona State

19-7, 0

Arizona State

Washington

Washington Shuts Outs Arizona State In Doubleheader, Earns Series Sweep

March 19, 2017 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 UW vs ASU Game One Final Box UW vs ASU Game Two Final Box UW vs ASU Game Three Final Box

SEATTLE – The No.6 Washington softball team (24-3) swept No. 21 Arizona State (19-8) in the opening weekend of Pac-12 Conference play after posting back-to-back shutouts, 4-0 and 1-0, in a doubleheader Sunday afternoon.

Morganne Flores led the UW with two RBIs in the first game to help the Huskies win the series. Taylor Van Zee homered late in the second game to score the game's only run and complete the sweep.

Samantha Manti started both games against the Sun Devils, tossing one complete game and notching a career high of nine strikeouts in the first game. She totaled ten strikeouts, two walks and six hits on the day. The freshman didn't allow a single run in her ten innings in the circle.

Taran Alvelo earned the win in the second game after striking out four and allowing only one hit.

The Huskies took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning of game one, beginning with a single from Van Zee. Casey Stangel singled to advance Van Zee to second, and Julie DePonte was hit by a pitch from Sun Devil starter Giselle Juarez, to load the bases. Sis Bates was issued a walk and pushed in Van Zee from third. Flores then doubled to bring in the final two runs of the inning.

In the fourth inning, the Huskies tacked on the final run of the game after Trysten Melhart was walked and stole second. Ali Aguilar singled and plated Melhart to make it 4-0.

Manti and the rest of the Husky defense allowed only two base runners in the game's final three innings.

After a scoreless first four innings in the second game of the doubleheader, the Sun Devils threatened to get on the board with bases loaded and no outs in the fifth. Alvelo relieved Manti and struck out three batters to escape the jam with no damage done.

Van Zee blasted a home run to center field to lead off the sixth to account for the only run in the second game.

The Huskies earned the sweep over Arizona State after Alvelo and Manti gave up only four runs and 16 hits in the series. Kirstyn Thomas and Morganne Flores led the offense with four hits each. Thomas drove in three runs while Flores plated five.

Washington will head to Arizona Tuesday to face Grand Canyon University in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 22, beginning at 3 p.m. PT. The Huskies will then travel to Tucson, Ariz., for a conference series against No. 4/5 Arizona. The teams will play on March 24-26 at 4 p.m., 12 p.m. and 12 p.m., respectively. All three games against the Wildcats will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.