March 14, 2002
FULLERTON, Calif. - Arizona State pitcher Kirsten Voak (7-3) struck out nine New Mexico batters in just four and a one third innings, while Kara Brun went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lift Arizona State (25-6) to a 5-3 win over New Mexico in the second pool game at the KIA Klassic Tournament in Fullerton, California.
The Sun Devils got on the board first with three runs in the bottom of the first. With the bases loaded, Brun stepped to the plate and drilled a single to center field to score Missy Hixon and Nichole Thompson. Adriana Garcia followed with another single to right field to plate Phelan Wright.
New Mexico would tie the game in the top of the third off one Sun Devil error. With the bases loaded Cassie Calderun doubled off ASU's Kristen Swetel to left field, scoring two runs. Brooke Chaffee then hit a single to center to plate the third run. Swetel was then replaced by Voak who struck out the next batter to end the inning.
ASU posted one more run in the third and fourth innings to pull away as Voak shut down the Lobos bats. In the third, Brun opened with a single to left field and was then sacrificed to second by Voak. After Garcia reached on an error by the pitcher, Swetel singled to right field to drive in Brun. In the fourth, Thompson began the frame with a hard double to left center field. After a ground out, Brun again came through with a single to center to score Thompson for the final run.
In relief, Voak faced 14 batters, allowing only one hit with nine strikeouts. ASU pounded out nine hits with six different players collecting at least one hit.
Up next, Arizona State will finish pool play, facing DePaul on Friday at 3:00 p.m. (Pacific). If ASU wins the pool they won't play again until 9:00 a.m. Saturday. If they come in second or third in the pool, ASU will play again on Friday at 7:00 p.m.