May 20, 2000
TEMPE, Ariz. -- In a game featuring the last two Regional unbeatens, Alabama defeated host school Arizona State 4-1 Saturday at Farrington Stadium to advance to Sunday's championship game.
The top-seeded Sun Devils drew first blood in the top of the first inning when sophomore designated player Erica Beach singled to right-center, scoring teammate Kara Brun from second. The freshman shortstop had reached base with a two-out single, and then stole second with Beach at the plate.
But the Crimson Tide, who loaded the bases but failed to score in their half of the first, would get to ASU starter Kirsten Voak in the third when junior first baseman Ginger Jones stepped to the plate with two away. She drove Voak's 1-1 offering into deep right-center to knot the score at one.
Second-seeded Alabama (64-12) kept its momentum going in the fourth, when senior Christi Kyle singled up the middle to lead off the inning and then advanced to second when Sun Devil centerfielder Nicole Thompson failed to pick up the rolling ball. Kyle then stole third, and on the ensuing pitch freshman Jennifer Reach brought her home by roping a single to center. Reach would score herself when senior Paula White sent a shot over the left field wall with two outs.
"I was just looking to have a great at bat and make strong contact on the ball," said White of her first home run since 1997. " When I saw it sailing over the fence I was overjoyed."
Meanwhile Tide starting pitcher Shelley Laird was dealing, allowing just two hits after the first inning en route to raising her record to 36-6. Voak, who pitched the Sun Devils to victory in their first two games of the tournament, saw her record fall to 30-10.
"It's just amazing. This is our first win against a Pac-10 team, Alabama Head Coach Pat Murphy said. "I think we were 0-9 versus the Pac-10 and I was praying that this would be an opportunity to do it. It couldn't have come at better time. Obviously we still have to win one tomorrow."
Arizona State (64-12) will face either Penn State or Coastal Carolina Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The winner of that game must defeat Alabama twice on Sunday to advance to the College World Series in Oklahoma City.