Feb. 13, 2000
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State softball Head Coach Linda Wells earned her 700th career victory as the Sun Devils defeated Cal State Fullerton, 8-3, this afternoon at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex. Wells, in her 25th season and 11th at Arizona State, now moves into an elite company of NCAA coaches to reach this milestone.
In today's first game to reach 699, ninth-ranked Arizona State (6-0) shut out 16th-ranked Massachusetts, 6-0, behind a four hit, eight strikeout performance by sophomore All-American Kirsten Voak (3-0). ASU scored a run in the first and third innings and posted two more in the fourth. To open up the fifth inning, freshman shortstop Kara Brun launched her second homerun, a solo shot over the leftfield fence. In the game Brun went 2 for 4 with a run and two RBIs. Second baseman Missy Hixon went 3 for 4 with three runs scored, while Erica Beach and Jamie Hlebechuk each chipped in with two hits and a RBI apiece.
In the second game against CS Fullerton to claims Wells' her 700th win, ASU had to come from a one run deficit in the first inning, the only time ASU trailed the entire tournament. The Sun Devils would tie the game in the third and then seal the win with a five run outburst in the fifth. Hixon nailed her first career homerun over the right field fence and also had a double as she went 2 for 4 with a run and two RBIs. Beach (3-0), who allowed eight hits and no earned runs, also had a perfect day at the plate going 4 for 4 with a homerun and three RBIs. Nichlole Thompson went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and a RBI.
Arizona State will be back in action next weekend as they host its annual Louisville Slugger Classic Tournament, Friday through Sunday at Farrington Stadium.