Feb. 1, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. - Junior pitcher Bre DeSanta, making her first career start as a Sun Devil, notched a four hit shutout as she helped to lead the 20th-ranked Arizona State softball team (3-0) to a five inning, 8-0 mercy rule game overt Stephen F. Austin (0-3) Sunday afternoon at Farrington Stadium. ASU leadoff hitter Valerie Sevilla had a career day at the plate as she went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and one RBI.
ASU posted three runs in the first inning off three straight walks. With the bases loaded, Trisha Tornberg worked a walk from SFA's starting pitcher Nicole Carter (0-2) to drive in the first run. That was followed by another walk to Billie Akauola and Sharee Zaleski as they both forced in a run. Crissy Autry then relived Carter for the final out of the inning.
The Devils would tally two more runs in the second inning. Sevilla led off with a double to leftfield, then Kristin Farber drilled a hard line drive back off SFA's pitcher to get on and move Sevilla to third. After Farber stole second base, Heidi Knabe singled to right centerfield to drive in Sevilla. ASU once again loaded the bases for Akauola, who was then hit by a pitch to drive in the fifth run of the game.
ASU ended the game in the fourth inning when they posted four more runs for the 8-0 advantage. After SFA made wholesale changes to their defense, including bringing in their third pitcher of the game, Dawn Thomas, the Devils loaded the bases again. A wild pitch by Thomas brought in the sixth run, while Jen McCard grounded out to second base to drive in the seventh run. Sevilla then capped her career day with her second double of the game, driving in the final run.
DeSanta (1-0) limited SFA to four hits, walking one with five strikeouts. Farber collected two hits on the day and stole her 49th career base, leaving her four shy of second all-time in ASU history. Carrie Woydziak led SFA with a 2-for-2 game.
Up next, the Sun Devils will host Northwestern and Kansas next Friday, Saturday and Sunday in a triangular at Farrington Stadium.