(Photo: Alli Cline/WCSN)
Arizona State softball was unable to extend its winning streak past three games, opening Saturday of the Diamond Devil Invitational with a loss by the score of 4-1 to the Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-1)
The Sun Devils appeared overmatched from the first pitch, and the score was a poor representation of how clearly Minnesota dominated the game.
Minnesota sophomore Sara Groenewagen from White Rock, British Columbia, was in control from the first pitch, opening with four no-hit innings and finishing with a line of seven innings pitched, four hits, two walks and eight strikeouts.
Devils coach Craig Nicholson countered with his freshman workhorse Dale Ryndak, making her 12th appearance and seventh start of the season.
Ryndak was very sharp early on, but was beaten in the third inning by Minnesota leadoff hitter Tyler Walker on a deep homerun to right field to give the Golden Gophers a 2-0 advantage.
Ryndak appeared to tire as the game progressed, losing her ability to overpower the Minnesota hitters with each passing inning.
The final blow for ASU took place in the fifth inning, on a two-run double by Minnesota first baseman Kaitlin Richardson that plated left fielder Paige Palkovich and Walker. The latter run brought a rise out of the ASU dugout, as it appeared that the tag from catcher Sashel Palacios beat Walker to the plate, but Walker was called safe.
Even had the run not scored, it would not have made a difference for the ASU offense in this game.
The Devils did not register a hit until the fifth inning, and although they had runners on base throughout the game, they could not come up with any production when it counted, finishing 0-10 with runners in scoring position.
The lone offensive ASU bright spot came in the sixth, on a solo homerun to left field from sophomore shortstop Chelsea Gonzales.
Arizona State could not muster any further production after Gonzales’ blast, and went quietly over the final six outs of the game.
Ryndak suffered her first loss of the season, dropping to 5-1. She finished with seven innings, eight hits, four runs and only one strikeout.
The Sun Devils (10-5) will look to split Saturday’s doubleheader with a matchup against the Indiana State Sycamores (2-5) from Farrington Stadium.
