Texas trumps Softball 6-3; Sun Devils next play Michigan Saturday

Arizona State softball (50-11) fell to Texas (50-8) on May 30  by a score of 6-3  in the teams opening game of the 2013 Women's College World Series.  Up next is a 11:30 a.m. PT game against Michigan on ESPN2 on June 1.

Dallas Escobedo pitched four complete innings of hitless ball before Texas rallied in the fifth and sixth for a 6-3 score. Escobedo took the loss (30-5) while reliever Mackenzie Popescue closed out the bottom of the sixth with one strikeout. Five Sun Devils picked up hits in the game and Alix Johnson had a team-best two RBI and reached base on three occasions.  

ASU led 2-0 after the top of the first before Texas gained control in the bottom of the frame 4-2. ASU scored one run in the sixth but the Longhorns once again rallied back with a pair of runs to take an eventual winning lead of 6-3.

Saturday 11:30 a.m. PT vs. Michigan | ESPN2 | WatchESPN.com | Live Stats

The Sun Devils will return to the field on Saturday, June 1 against Michigan and will be aired on ESPN2 at 1:30 p.m. CT/11:30 a.m. PT.

Four complete innings of scoreless ball against Texas is what started the Sun Devils' ride in the WCWS. Déjà vu from the March 14 match up against the Longhorns saw Alix Johnson double off the left field wall to plate one to break up the no-no. Johnson pulled through once again this time on the big stage.

Elizabeth Caporuscio started the fifth-inning rally with a single through the right side.Bailey Wigness followed in the next at-bat with a single to left to set up the two-RBI double. Johnson repeated the feat from two months ago, slamming one off the left field wall and plating Wigness and pinch runner Kayla Ketchum for the 2-0 lead.

Texas tied it in the bottom of the fifth when a double to right by Taylor Thom scored Stephanie Ceo and an ASU error allowed Brejae Washington to cross home. The Longhorns then used a two-run homer by Kim Bruins to pull ahead 4-2.

It didn't take long for Arizona State to shorten the gap, 4-3. Haley Steele led the sixth inning off with her 12th home run of the year and first in the WCWS. It would be the last time the Sun Devils scored, however, eventually falling 6-3 after Texas came up with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Blaire Luna picked up the win, she is now 31-5 on the year. Kim Bruins earned a save, her first, after throwing 1.0 innings for Texas.

UP NEXT
ASU will continue play in the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City on June 1 against Michigan. ASU's game will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT/11:30 a.m. PT on ESPN2. The complete schedule is posted on the NCAA website, here, and will be updated on thesundevils.com.

NOTES
The ASU softball program is 18-17 in 11 appearances in the WCWS and 83-48 overall in the NCAA Tournament (25 appearances). Clint Myers is 14-9 in the WCWS in seven appearances. 

ASU's last win in the WCWS was against LSU on 6/2/12 against LSU, W 6-0.

ASU's last loss in the WCWS, prior to May 30 against Texas, was on 6/3/12 against Oklahoma, L 5-3.

The last time ASU and Texas met in the WCWS was a 2-0 loss on 6/1/06. All-time series between the two teams is 6-7 dating back to 1997. ASU played Texas this season, March 14, and won 3-0.

Dallas Escobedo is 19-5 in her career in the NCAA Postseason. This year she is 5-1. In the WCWS, Escobedo is 6-3 (5-0, 2011; 1-2, 2012; 0-1, 2013).

Haley Steele's home run in the sixth inning was her 12th of the season and career first in the WCWS.

Mackenzie Popescue came in for relief of Escobedo in the bottom of the sixth, marking her first appearance in the WCWS.

IN THE POSTSEASON
Myers: 53-14
ASU Program History: 83-48, 25th appearance
ASU in WCWS: 18-17, 11 appearances
Myers in WCWS: 14-9, 7 appearances
Escobedo: 19-5; 5-1 in 2013
Popescue: 0-0; 0-0 in 2013, 1 save in 2013

ASU AGAINST 2013 WCWS TEAMS
Texas: 6-7 since 1997. 0-2 vs. UT in WCWS
Last meeting: W 3-0, 3/14/13
Last WCWS meeting: L 2-0, 6/1/06
2013 WCWS meeting: L 6-3, 5/30/13 

Michigan: 9-10 since 1988. 1-0 vs. UM in WCWS
Last meeting: L 5-4, 3/15/13
Last WCWS meeting: W 2-1, 5/23/02 

Oklahoma: 12-11 since 1979. 1-1 vs. UO in WCWS
Last WCWS meeting: L 5-3, 6/3/12

Nebraska: 21-10 since 1971. First WCWS meeting

Washington: 26-49 since 1993. 0-2 vs. UW in WCWS
Last WCWS meeting: L 1-0 (8), 5/29/09 

Tennessee: 1-2 since 1998. 0-1 vs. UT in WCWS
Last WCWS meeting: L 3-1 (9), 6/3/06 

Florida: 5-3 since 1998. 3-0 vs. UF in WCWS
Last WCWS meeting: W 7-2, 6/7/11