April 6, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - Down two runs in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, the eighth-ranked Arizona State softball team (32-9, 2-2 Pac-10) rallied behind back to back doubles by Nichole Thompson and Missy Hixon to come from behind and defeat the 10th-ranked Washington Huskies (32-11, 1-3 Pac-10), 3-2, tonight at Farrington Stadium.
Washington got on the board first in the fourth inning on a two run home run over he right center field fence by Kristen Rivera.
Arizona State had scoring chances in the first and fourth innings with runners on the corner, but was unable to capitalize.
UW's Tia Bollinger (14-6) held the Sun Devils to four hits until the dramatic seventh inning. Erica Beach started for ASU, going three innings with two runs and four strikeouts. Kristen Swetel (6-0) pitched the final four innings, allowing only two hits with two strikeouts.
The Sun Devils seventh inning rally stated off when the Huskies walked Beach, who was then lifted for pinch runner Kari Reidhead. After consecutive strikeouts, Kirsten Voak reached first on a fielding error by the second baseman, advancing Reidhead to second. Thompson then took Bollinger to a full count and drilled the next ball to the right center field fence for a stand up double, scoring both Reidhead and Voak to tie the game. UW's Leslie Scott then replaced Bollinger to face Hixon. On a 1-1 count, Hixon laced another double to right field to drive in Thompson for the game winning run.
On the night, Hixon paced ASU with a 3-for-4, one RBI game, while Thompson went 1-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI. Kara Brun and Phelan Wright also had hits for ASU.
Up next, the two teams will square off in the final of the two game series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.