April 12, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. - Adriana Garcia's sacrifice fly to center field in the fifth inning to drive in Jennifer Forner from third base broke a 1-1 tie and propelled 12th-ranked Arizona State (28-12; 5-3 Pac-10) to a 2-1 win over 16th-ranked Stanford (31-15; 3-5 Pac-10) in front of a season-high 817 fans at Farrington Stadium. With the win, Arizona State moves into a tie for second in the Pac-10 standings.
The Sun Devils wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as they posted a single run in the first inning. Kristin Farber reached first with an infield hit and then advance on to second on a Kara Brun ground out to second base. Cheryl Evans followed with a flared single into right center to score Farber for the 1-0 lead.
Stanford would answer in the third inning when Maureen LeCocq hit a solo home run to center field to tie the game until the ASU fifth.
Forner opened the inning with a double to left centerfield. Valerie Sevilla then grounded out to Stanford pitcher Tori Nyberg, but Forner advanced to third on the throw to first. That set up Garcia's sacrifice fly to center field to bring in Forner.
Besides LaCocq home run, no other Stanford player reached second as ASU starting pitcher Desiree Serrano (17-7) went the distance, limiting the Cardinal to three hits and one run with four strikeouts.
Nyberg (13-7) took the loss, allowing two runs on only three hits. Laura Severson replaced Nyberg in the middle of the fifth inning and finished the remaining inning and a third, giving up one hit on two walks.
Up next, Arizona State and Stanford will finish the two game set on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.