Jan. 31, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. - Sophomore pitcher Desiree Serrano allowed only one run off four hits and freshman Heidi Knabe's two-run single in the fourth inning carried the 20th-ranked Arizona State softball team (2-0) to a 3-1 victory over Stephen F. Austin (0-2), Saturday night at Farrington Stadium. Serrano (1-0) had a perfect game through four and two-thirds innings before giving up a double to SFA's Brooke Chandler.
In the home half of the fourth inning, Phelan Wright singled to left field. Then Ashley Werschky hit into a fielder's choice, but Wright was called safe at second as they tried to force her out. Keri Pulcifer then walked to load the bases. Knabe then stepped to the plate and took the count to 1-1. She then fisted the next pitch into short left centerfield, scoring Wright and Werschky for the 2-0 lead.
The Jacks then got one run back in the sixth. Heather Hebert singled to left field and then sacrificed to second by Carrie Woydziak. Kristen Exline followed with another single to left, moving Hebert to third. Serrano then threw a wild pitch that went back to the backstop, allowing Herbert to slide home just underneath the tag.
However, The Devils would quickly get the run back in the bottom of the sixth when Trisha Tornberg drilled her first career home run over the right field fence to extend the lead to 3-1.
SFA's Crissy Autry (0-1) pitched a nice game, but suffered the loss as he allowed five hits and three runs, while striking out nine. Serrano ended the game with five strikeouts.
Both teams will finish the three-game series on Sunday with a first pitch at 1:00 p.m.