The No. 8 Sun Devils (39-9, 12-6 Pac-12) found themselves one spot higher in the rankings heading into Tuesday's game, and they proved why after taking down New Mexico State (26-22, 11-4 WAC) 5-1 Tuesday afternoon.
This game would conclude the Devils' short road trip before they return home for a weekend series against Stanford (22-26, 2-16).
Sophomore right fielder Kindra Hackbarth led the way offensively with a two-run dinger in the fifth inning. She finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored and a walk as well.
Junior center fielder Morgan Howe had another multi-hit effort, going 3-for-4 with a seventh-inning RBI single.
To round out the outfield trio, junior left fielder Skylar McCarty had a single to drive in sophomore shortstop Jade Gortarez in the first inning.
On the other side of the field, senior starter Breanna Macha twirled some quality pitches. She had recently struggled in her Saturday starts, going 1-3 in her last four, allowing 16 runs — 13 of them earned — over the stretch.
On Tuesday, she held the Aggies to just eight baserunners in a complete game effort. She allowed one run on a home run by Aggies center fielder Victoria Castro in the fourth. She forced eleven outs on the ground and struck out three. She is now 12-5 on the season.
Macha has now won her last two starts and has a chance to make a bigger impact heading into their final home series of the season.
The Devils will host Stanford for three games, starting Friday at 7 p.m.