Feb. 15, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - The eighth-ranked Arizona State softball team (6-2) split its first two games of the Louisville Slugger Classic Tournament at Farrington Stadium, losing to Illinois State (3-4), 3-0 and defeating sixth-ranked Iowa (0-2), 9-1.
In the opening game, the Sun Devils could only come up with three hits on the afternoon as Illinois State pitcher Corey Harris kept ASU off balance. The Redbirds scored two runs in the third inning and one more in the seventh. ASU had scoring chances in several innings, but could not plate a runner as they suffered their first shutout of the year. Kirsten Voak (2-2), who pitched three and a third innings took the loss. Kristen Swetel also pitched in the game, giving up one run and three hits in three and two-thirds innings.
In the nightcap, Arizona State bounced back with a 13-hit, nine run victory against sixth-ranked Iowa. ASU posted a run in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. Iowa starting pitcher Kristi Hanks (0-1) lasted only two innings after getting hit on her pitching hand as she batted in the second inning. Sarah Thomson replaced Hanks for four innings, allowing nine hits and six runs.
In the third inning, the Sun Devils tagged three more runs on the board courtesy of an Adriana Garcia home run. With one out, Kara Brun doubled to left field. After another out, Phelan Wright, who doubled to start off the second inning, was intentionally walked to bring Garcia to plate. The third pitch Garcia saw from Thomson she launched over the leftfield wall, nearly travelling 225 feet.
In the sixth inning, ASU pitcher Erica Beach (4-0) helped her own cause by ripping another three-run home run over the right field wall to put the game out of reach. Brun led the Sun Devils with a 3-for-4 game with two runs scored and two RBIs. Missy Hixon, Nichole Thompson and Wright each contributed with two hits apiece.
Despite giving up 10 hits to Iowa, Beach did not allow an earned run to extend her scoreless streak to 28 innings.
Up next, Arizona State will face Michigan State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and Oklahoma State at 5:30 p.m.
Complete scores from the first day of the Louisville Slugger Classic:
Friday, February 15
Michigan State_1_vs._14_Oklahoma State (5)
Michigan State_0_vs._8_Illinois State (5)
Iowa_3_vs._8_Oklahoma State
Arizona State_0_vs._3_Illinois State
Arizona State_9_vs._1_Iowa