March 17, 2000
FULLERTON, Calif. - The third-ranked Arizona State softball team (29-4) blanked Iowa, 5-0, tonight to advance to the quarterfinals of the KIA Klassic Tournament in Fullerton, Calif.
Sophomore pitcher Kirsten Voak posted her 13th career double-digit strikeout game as she tallied 12 k's and limited the Hawkeyes to two hits.
The Sun Devils scored first in the bottom of the first when Voak earned a walk with the bases loaded. ASU then posted two more in the second. With runners on second and third, Nichole Thompson laid down a bunt, making the Iowa catcher hurry the throw to first base, and overthrowing the base into the dugout.
ASU would put the game out of reach with two more runs in the fifth inning. Three singles in a row by Erica Beach, Sara Kahler and Voak loaded the bases for Erin Wardein who hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring one run. After Jamie Hlebechuk was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, Missy Hixon was promptly hit by a pitch as well to bring in the final run.
ASU scattered 10 hits on the night. Kahler went 3-for-4 with a run scored, Voak went 3-for-3 with a RBI and Thompson had two RBIs and a run scored.
Arizona State will next face the winner of tonight's Oregon State vs. Hawaii game in a single-elimination game on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The winner will advance to the semifinals on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. with the championship game slated for 2:00 p.m.
Iowa 000 000 0 - 0 2 0 Arizona State 120 020 0 - 5 10 0
WP: Voak (19-1) LP: Zeilstra (7-3)