Feb. 19, 2000
TEMPE, Ariz. - The ninth-ranked Arizona State softball team (9-1) split their two games at today's Louisville Slugger Classic Tournament at Farrington Stadium. In the first game, ASU defeated 17th - ranked Michigan State (2-2), 11-2 in five innings and then lost their first game of the season to 25th -ranked Iowa (4-0), 1-0.
In the first game ASU went on a scoring rally in the second inning, tallying 6 of their 11 runs. Senior Andrea Rodgers and sophomore Erica Beach both hit grand slam homeruns for the Devils, a first in Arizona State history. Rodgers' - who came in as a pintch hitter - grand-slam was her first career homerun. Beach also tallied five RBI's for the game and Rodgers knocked in four. Sophomore pitcher Kirsten Voak struck out five batters and gave up four hits to increase her record to 5-0.
In the twilight game, Iowa's pitcher Kelly Zeilstra (2-0) won a pitching battle, holding ASU to only two hits and striking out four batters. Liz Dennis hit a double in the fifth inning to knock in the winning run for Iowa. Arizona State had a chance to pull out a tie in the seventh inning with a runner on third, but a deep fly to center field ended the ball game.
Up next, Arizona State will face Michigan State and Illinois State tomorrow at 10:00 am and 12:00 pm respectively.