(Photo: Michael Baron/WCSN)
Following a two-game series sweep of the New Mexico State Aggies, the Sun Devils are set to host the Oregon State Beavers for a three-game series beginning on Saturday.
ASU is now above the .500 mark as it is 21-8 on the season and still ranked No. 21.
The beavers are 15-11 on the year and are currently trudging through a four-game losing streak that began with a 6-0 loss against the Minnesota Gophers and was perpetuated when Oregon State lost all three games in its series with the University of Arizona.
However, in the final game that ended in a 7-4 defeat, the four runs Oregon State managed to score mark the most that U of A has given up to another team this season.
The Beavers, like the Sun Devils, are also 0-3 in conference play so far this season.
Pitching is a strength for both teams as the Beavers have senior Taylor Cotton, who has an ERA of 1.64 and is 6-2 on the year. The Sun Devils have depth in the circle as they have junior Dale Ryndak who has 1.17 ERA and is 7-1 this season, as well as junior Breanna Macha who has a 1.65 ERA and is 7-4.
Ryndak has the most appearances of the pitchers with 16, while Macha has the most starts with 10.
Additionally, ASU can also rely on the work of freshmen Giselle Juarez and Alyssa Loza. Juarez is 3-3 with an ERA of 1.77 and Loza is 4-0 and has not surrendered an earned run this year.
The Sun Devils will have to be wary of a few other players on the Beavers as well. This includes redshirt senior Natalie Hampton, who has 24 RBIs this season and is only three RBIs shy of setting an all-time OSU record.
Junior Alysha Everett and redshirt senior Sammi Noland to watch out for as both players lead the Beavers with five home runs.
ASU Junior Fa Leilua and senior Chelsea Gonzales are the ones that lead the Devils in home runs with six apiece.
Gonzales, as has been the case all season, is first on the team in several other statistical categories as well. She leads Arizona State in RBIs with 28 and batting average with a .390.
The three games at Farrington Stadium will be televised on Pac-12 Network.
