March 9, 2002
PLEASANTON, Calif. - The seventh-ranked Arizona State softball team (23-6) advanced to the championship game of the National Invitational Softball Tournament with a 5-1 victory over Iowa tonight in the semifinals. The Sun Devils will not know their opponent until after the 12:00 p.m. losers bracket game on Sunday. ASU could face top-ranked UCLA, California, Long Beach State or Iowa again.
In the semifinals, Iowa jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Kristin Johnson walked, followed by a sacrifice to move her to second. Jessica Bashor then doubled to center to dive in the Iowa run. But that was all the Hawkeye's would score of off ASU pitchers Kristen Swetel and Erica Beach. Swetel started the game, going two and a third innings with one run, while Beach (15-3) finished the final four and two thirds allowing only three hits.
ASU went on top with three runs in the second inning off two Iowa errors. With Beach on first, Swetel reached on a fielder's choice while Beach advanced to second on an error by pitcher Kristi Hanks. Kristin Farber then reached first on another throwing error by Hanks, which went into right field, scoring both Swetel and Turner (pinch ran fro Beach) while Farber went to third. Kirsten Voak then reached first on another fielder's choice, scoring Farber for the third run.
ASU tagged on one more run in the third and fourth innings to put the game out of reach. Brun and Farber each had two RBIs, while Brun also went 3-for-3 in the game.