Sun Devils crush Gators in first game
Arizona State belts 4 home runs in victory
OKLAHOMA CITY – Krista Donnenwirth hit two of Arizona State’s four homers and drove in four runs, Kaylyn Castillo and Annie Lockwood had three RBIs apiece and the Sun Devils routed Florida 14-4 Monday night in the opening game of the Women’s College World Series finals.
The Sun Devils (59-6) broke the game open by scoring six times with two outs in the second and built a big enough lead to have the game stopped by mercy rule if it wasn’t played in the championship series.
Donnenwirth made it 7-0 with her three-run shot to the front of the left-field stands to finish the second-inning surge, then went back-to-back with Lockwood in the fifth as the lead bulged to 14.
Florida got late home runs from Kelsey Bruder, Cheyenne Coyle and Michelle Moultrie to avoid the most lopsided loss in the championship round.
Game 2 of the best-of-3 series is tonight.
The Gators (56-12) had been the hot-hitting team coming into the finals, scoring at least five in their first five games. They lead the nation with 124 home runs and rank second in scoring.
Dallas Escobedo (36-3) cooled them down enough to best Hannah Rogers (36-8) in the first matchup between freshmen pitchers in the finals, winning her 18th straight decision.