The defending national champion ASU Sun Devils softball team will have to beat tough Louisiana-Lafayette twice tonight to advance to the College World Series in Oklahoma City.
That, after the Ragin' Cajuns routed the Devils 6-0 last night in Tempe in the first of the best-of-three Super Regionals series.
The big home crowd sat stunned as the powerful team from Bayou country had its way with ASU pitching star Dallas Escobedo, hammering the big right-hander for six earned runs on twelve hits.
Freshman ULL pitcher Jordan Wallace dominated throughout, allowing just two meaningless hits in a complete game performance.
Wallace is 27-1 on the season, and we have no reason to believe that she won't start tonight's first (and, if ULL wins, the only) game at Farrington Stadium, off Rural Road south of the Rio Salado Parkway.
Things are scheduled to start at 6 p.m., and if ASU wins the first one, the championship game will follow immediately afterward.
We're curious to see who Devils' head coach Clint Myers will start on the mound, Escobedo or senior Hilary Bach, who has had a fabulous season and is no stranger to big games. Our bet is Bach, but it will be hard for Myers to sit Escobedo, whose exploits last year in carrying her team to the national title were extraordinary.
The home crowd should come into play for ASU tonight, but the teams look very even and winning the doubleheader will be something of a tall order for the Devils.
Come to think of it, we're going to the game after work!
