TEMPE – To argue against Sun Devil Softball’s 2-1 win over CSU Bakersfield on Sunday afternoon not being one of the best pitching performances by first-year Sun Devil Aissa Silva would be like wishing for rain in Tempe during July: it’s pointless.
Silva, a Tucson native who transferred to Arizona State from Arizona during the offseason, toed the rubber in the pitching circle at Farrington Stadium for her fourth start over the course of the four-day ASU/GCU Invitational. And despite falling one out shy of her first seven-inning complete game since March 9, 2024, the left hander did strike out seven batters – the second most by Silva in a start this season after having nine in five innings against New Mexico State on Saturday, Feb. 21 – and scatter just five hits – a season low in a start of three-or-more innings – over the course of her work.
Nearly 68 percent (67.3) of her 98 pitches thrown were strikes, while inducing eight groundouts and five flyouts to coincide with her seven strikeouts…