Feb. 11, 2000
TEMPE, Ariz. - The ninth-ranked Arizona State softball team (2-0) unloaded 25 runs on 25 hits against its two opponents today during the first day of the Fiesta Bowl Softball Tournament.
In the first game, the Sun Devils defeated Utah State (0-2), 18-0 in five innings, while ASU scattered 13 hits by six different player.
The freshmen pair of Kara Brun and Sara Kahler made immediate impacts as Brun went 2 for 3 with a double, four runs scored and four RBIs, while Kahler went 3 for 4 with a run and three RBIs.
Sophomore Missy Hixon, Nichole Thomson and Erica Beach each had two hits. Junior Stacey Farnworth, who transferred from Utah, also had a fine debut as she went 2 for 4 with a run and three RBIs.
Additionally, Beach (1-0) pitched five strong innings, limiting Utah State to four hits and striking out two for her first shutout of the year.
In the second game the Sun Devils played long ball as Brun and Beach each went deep against Kansas (0-2) for a 7-1 final. ASU jumped out to a three run lead in the first off a Beach's homerun to centerfield.
In the fifth, ASU collected four more runs, one on a solo blast by Brun over the left center field fence to seal the win. Hixon, Brun, Beach, Kirsten Voak and Jamie Hlebechuk each had two hits. Voak went the distance, allowing Kansas four hits and one unearned run, while striking out five.
Arizona State is back in action on Saturday at Farrington Stadium when hey will face 13th-ranked Nebraska at 3:30 p.m. and 18th-ranked South Carolina at 5:30 p.m.