Feb. 13, 2004
Texas Tech Box Score | New Mexcio Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. - The 20th-ranked Arizona State softball team (7-4) split its opening two games of the Fiesta Bowl Tournament Friday at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex by shutting out Texas Tech (1-6), 3-0, and falling to New Mexico (2-0), 8-6.
Against Texas Tech, pitcher Desiree Serrano (3-0) posted her second shutout of the year as she went the distance, allowing seven hits with seven strikeouts. Offensively, the Devils manufactured all three runs in the first, third and fourth innings, all with two outs.
In the first, Kristin Farber singled to left field and then stole her eighth straight base of the season to move into scoring position. With two outs, Keri Pulcifer singled again to left field to drive in Farber for her-team leading eighth run of the year. In the third, ASU started another two-out rally as Farber doubled to left field. Phelan Wright followed with a single to right field to plate Farber for the 2-0 lead. The Devils tagged on the final run in the fourth when Heidi Knabe singled to center field and stole second base. Jen McCard then singled to right field to drive in Knabe.
The Red Raiders had several scoring chances, but could not convert as they left 10 runners on base.
In the first game of the day, New Mexico scored once in the first, but the Devils came back with three in the second off a three-run home run by Valerie Sevilla. But the Lobos would get one back in the second and four more in the third, with three of the four coming unearned. The inning was capped by a solo home run by Sabrina Sandberg off ASU starting pitcher Ashley Werschky (2-3). New Mexico then scored their final two runs in the fourth inning before ASU tried to make a rally in the late innings.
In the fifth inning, Wright hit her team-leading third home run, a two run shot to cut into the lead. But ASU could only get one more run on the board in the seventh inning when Himmita Hixson singled in the run for the final 8-6 score.
Serrano relived Werschky for the final three and a third innings, giving up one earned run with four strikeouts. Amy Dumas posted the save as she relived Itaina Ogas to get the final two Sun Devil batters.
Up next, the Sun Devils will play back at Farrington Stadium on Saturday against Syracuse at 4:00 p.m. and Nevada at 6:00 p.m.