Feb. 15, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. - The 13th-ranked Arizona State softball team (9-3) earned two more wins on Saturday at the Louisville Slugger Classic Tournament, defeating Iowa, 5-1 and Illinois State, 3-1. Desiree Serrano (6-2) posted both wins for the Sun Devils, who are the only undefeated team in the four-team tournament.
In the first game against Iowa, Serrano limited the Hawkeye's to only three hits and one run with seven strikeouts. Iowa took the early lead in the second off of an Elisha Huse single to center. The Devils then tallied two runs in the fourth, courtesy of an Adriana Garcia home run over the 210-foot center field fence.
ASU sealed the game in the fifth with three more runs. Iowa starting pitcher Ali Arnold was replaced by Lisa Birocci after Arnold allowed an opening inning walk to Valerie Sevilla. After Jennifer Forner advanced Sevilla to second on a ground out, Kristin Farber hit a bunt to put two runners on. Kara Brun then drilled a hard grounder to second baseman Christina Schmaltz, who made a fielding error as it went under her glove. Then right fielder Natalie Johnson also misplayed Brun's ball for a second error, allowing Brun to go to third and scoring both Sevilla and Farber. Phelan Wright followed with a double to right field to plate Brun for the final run.
In the second game against Illinois State, freshman pitcher Ashley Werschky got her first career start, going four innings with four hits and one run. The Devils struck first with one run in the fourth, while the Redbirds also scored once in the fifth to tie the game. Serrano relived Werschky in the fifth, but gave up the lone run to ISU.
Brun then led the ASU two-run charge in the sixth with another double. With one out, Garcia reached first on an error by the second baseman, while Brun moved to third. Keri Pulcifer then came off the bench and delivered the go-ahead RBI single to left field. Werschky then singled as well to drive in the final run.
Serrano pitched the final three innings, allowing only one hit with four strikeouts. ISU's Sheila Emms took the loss, giving up seven hits and only one earned run with five strikeouts.
Up next, Arizona State will face Iowa on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and end the tournament against Utah State at 3:00 p.m.