April 19, 2002
BERKELEY, Calif. - The sixth-ranked Arizona State softball team (35-11, 5-4 Pac-10) fell to eighth-ranked California (40-14, 6-4 Pac-10), 3-2, this afternoon in Berkeley. The Sun Devils committed four errors in the first two innings, allowing Cal to jump to a 3-0 lead.
In the first inning, Cal leadoff hitter Kaleo Eldredge reached on error by Missy Hixon and then was sacrificed over to second. Candace Harper then doubled her in for the first run. In the second, Jessica Vernaglia reach first on another ASU error to open the inning and was sacrificed over to second. Eldredge then singled to right field to drive in another run and advanced to second off of a third error when Kirsten Voak threw behind first base trying to get Eldredge. Cal's Kristen Morley then bunted for a single then advanced to second on error by Hixon, scoring Eldredge for the Bears's final run of the game.
The Sun Devils cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning. With one out, Kara Brun launched her team-leading seventh home run of the year, a solo shot over the center field fence. After another out, Erica Beach walked and was then lifted for pinch runner Amber Turner. Nichole Thompson followed with a double into the left center field gap, scoring Turner.
ASU had one more scoring chance in the sixth inning. Brun walked and was moved to third when Phelan Wright doubled down the left field line. But the Sun Devils were unable to capitalize on the no out situation.
Beach (22-8) scattered six hits, giving up three runs, none of them earned with three strikeouts.
Up next, Arizona State heads over to third-ranked Stanford for single game on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.