March 2, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - For the second time in as many nights, the ninth-ranked Arizona State softball team (18-4) run ruled Boston College (3-9), 9-0 in five innings Saturday night at Farrngton Stadium.
Arizona State got on the board with a single run in the second inning. Erica Beach walked, then was pinch run for by Amber Turner. Adriana Garcia followed with another walk, while Erin Wardein sacrificed both runners up a base. Jennifer Forner then took a 2-2 offering and singled up the middle to drive in Turner.
ASU tacked on three more in the third inning. To start, Missy Hixon was hit by a pitch, which was then followed by a Nichole Thompson infield single. Kara Brun then laid down a sacrifice bunt that was misplayed by pitcher Kim Ryan, allowing the bases to get loaded. Then a Ryan wild pitch scored Hixon. After an intentional walk to Beach to load the bases again, Garcia also walked to score Thompson. Kristen Swetel brought home the third run with an infield hit.
The Sun Devils ended the game in the bottom of the fourth with five more runs. Boston College changed pitchers by bringing in Michelle Daly. After walking Hixon, Daly threw three wild pitches to score Hixon. Brun then hit a double off the right field wall to score Thompson, while Swetel ended the attack with a triple into right field, scoring the final two runs.
Beach (12-2) started the game, going four innings with two hits and three strikeouts. Swetel pitched the final inning, allowing one hit with one strikeout.
Up next, the two teams will face one another a final time on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.