May 17, 2003
AUSTIN, Texas - The Arizona State softball team's (32-25) run through the NCAA Region 3 and another chance to get back to the College World Series ended Saturday afternoon in Austin, Texas as Hawaii (40-19) handed the Sun Devils a 4-2 defeat in the quarterfinals. ASU staved off two elimination games on Friday after dropping its opening game on Thursday, but could not over come a three-run first inning by the Wahine to finish the tournament with a 2-2 record.
The Devils manufactured their first run to take an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. With one out, Jennifer Forner sliced a double down the leftfield line and then stole third base. Kara Brun followed with a sharp single to center to plate Forner.
However, Hawaii would answer and never look back as they tagged three runs on in the bottom of the inning off ASU starter Ashley Werschky (10-7). Leadoff hitter Tracie Uchima singled to center and advanced to second on another single by April Crowell. Stacey Porter then hit a long drive off the top of the right field fence for a double to score Uchima and move Crowell to third. With two outs, it looked as if the Devils would get out of the inning with just the one run, but Marie Jackson found a hole in the right side of the infield off of a 2-2 count to score both Crowell and Porter.
ASU did close the gap to 3-2 in the fourth inning on a single and a double off Hawaii starter Melissa Coogan (32-10). Phelan Wright opened with a single to right and then came all the way home when Adriana Garcia drilled a double into the right centerfield gap. But as in the first inning, Hawaii would answer the score with their own. Denise Dahlberg tagged a triple to the centerfield fence, but as she was sliding into third, second baseman Jen McCard's relay throw to Wright at third was wide of the bag, allowing Dahlberg to score for the final 4-2 margin.
Desiree Serrano then entered the game for Werschky and kept the Wahine in check for the final three innings, but ASU could not plate another run off Coogan.
All three seniors did have a hand in getting the Devils their two runs. Brun finished 1 for 3 with an RBI to extended her school all-time record to 165, while Forner went 1 for 2 with a stolen base and a run scored. Garcia ended her career 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI.