2013 Softball World Series Tempe Regional Breakdown
#5 Arizona State, San Jose State, Georgia, San Diego State
Arizona State’s tournament seeding may have been slightly affected in part to a loss to Oregon that ended the regular season, but one may also argue the Sun Devils got a boost thanks to two wins in the same weekend series. The Sun Devils are 45-10 entering the regional, but six of the losses came in the last month against programs like Utah and Arizona. Arizona State has a superb 35-3 record at home, and that could help this team get into the super-regional round if it can hold off the other three schools. Like Oregon, Arizona State carries a power-loaded lineup into the regional. Cheyenne Coyle carries a .364 average, 19 homers and 60 runs batted in, and Amber Freeman hit 16 homers with a .385 average. Alix Johnson and Sam Parlich are also double-figure homer hitters. The team has plenty of .300 hitters, and pitcher Dallas Escobedo is terrifying to face with a 25-4 record, 2.31 ERA and 289 strikeouts.
San Jose State comes into the tournament having won its first Western Athletic Conference championship, but a potential pitfall awaits because the team lost 2-0 to San Diego State in the San Diego Classic tournament. San Jose State (42-15) doesn’t have the loaded lineup Arizona State does, but Michelle Cox hit .373 and stole 20 bases this season so there are some bright spots. Amanda Pridmore is a scary pitcher thanks to 250 strikeouts, a 29-9 record and 1.51 ERA. Georgia carries a 38-19 record into the tournament but is 6-5 at neutral sites. The Bulldogs lost to Florida in the SEC tournament semifinals, but this team carries a loaded lineup that could give Arizona State a run for its money. Geri Ann Glasco, Paige Wilson, Kailee Puailoa, Anna Swafford and Tina Iosefa all have 10-plus homer seasons, and the team has plenty of stolen-base power. San Diego State made the NCAA field for the sixth year in a row and it carries a 35-18 record (10-8 at neutral sites) into action. Lorena Bauer and Patrice Jackson are homer hitters, and Danielle O’Toole and Rebecca Arbino possess sub-2.00 ERAs and strong strikeout power. This could be a loaded regional.
See All 2013 Softball World Series Regional Breakdowns
