March 2, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State senior shortstop Kara Brun set a new all-time home run record as she belted her 28th and 29th career shots as the Sun Devils (17-6) split their final two games Sunday, defeating UC Riverside 9-2 and dropping an 8-5 decision to ninth-ranked Oklahoma. Brun also tied the all-time record for RBIs with 153 when she belted her second home run of the day against Riverside. The Devils also ripped seven home runs during the two games.
UCR scored their first run against the Devils all weekend when Jessica Gonzales singled in Melissa Sanchez who was earlier hit by a pitch by ASU starter Ashley Werschky. The Devils responded back with a run of their own in the second on back-to-back doubles by Phelan Wright and Adriana Garcia. ASU tacked on three more in the third on a Wright RBI single to center and a two run single by Garcia.
Riverside got one back in the fourth when Angie Castellanos singled in Sanchez. ASU posted two more runs in the fifth off back-to-back home runs by Garcia and Cheryl Evans, and three more in the sixth. Brun hit a solo home run, which was followed by a Garcia two-run blast. Garcia ended the game with a 4-for-4 performance with two home runs and six RBIs. Wright went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Werschky went the distance for her fourth win of the year, allowing seven hits and two runs. Jenell Jackson took the loss, giving up six runs.
Against Oklahoma, the Devils took a quick 4-0 lead in the first off Sooner pitcher Dana Askins. Brun set the all-time record when she went deep for a two-run home run, which was followed by a Wright solo home run. ASU scored the other run on an error by the Oklahoma shortstop. But the Sooners responded with four of their own in the second inning all coming with two outs. Kristin Vesely had an RBI single and Erin Evans had a two run single.
Oklahoma then took the lead for good in the third when Heather Scaglione hit a solo home run over the right centerfield fence. OU then posted one more in the fifth and two more in the sixth. ASU tallied one more run when Jen McCard hit her first career home run over the leftfield fence.
ASU's Desiree Serrano (10-4) started the game giving up seven hits and six runs only two earned. Evans pitched the final two and two-thirds, allowing two runs. Askins earned the win with Kami Keiter picking up the save.
Up next, Arizona State heads to San Jose, California where they will look to defend their 2002 title at the National Invitational Softball Tournament, March 7-9. ASU opens against Virginia Tech at 3:00 p.m.