ASU softball falls to Northwestern for trip to Women’s College World Series

The Arizona State women’s softball team fell to Northwestern 8-6 on Sunday in the Super Regional, failing to advance to the Women’s College World Series.

The loss sets up Northwestern for a date with the No. 1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners in Oklahoma City.

Northwestern took Game 1, but ASU fought in extra innings during Game 2 to force the winner-take-all Game 3 in Tempe.

Arizona State started the contest off with a bang, hitting a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning.

The Sun Devils scored the first five runs of the contest and lead by five after the third inning. The Wildcats did not roll over, adding four runs heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.

Northwestern tied the game on a home run in the top of the fifth when in came Game 2’s hero, pitcher Lindsay Lopez.

She got the last two outs in the fifth but gave out a a run in the sixth, finally squandering the 5-0 lead.

Lopez allowed the Wildcats two runs in the seventh inning and the Sun Devils season ended at home when they only scored one in the bottom half of the frame.

Northwestern scored eight unanswered runs in the contest.

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