March 18, 2004
FULLERTON, Calif. - The 23rd-ranked Arizona State softball team (28-13) split their first two pool games Thursday at the KIA Klassic Tournament in Fullerton, California, suffering a tough loss to third-ranked Florida State (32-3), 1-0, then bouncing back to shutout UNLV (16-16), 6-0. Up next, the Devils will finish pool play against 20th-ranked Nebraska on Friday at 1:00 p.m. Then, depending on where the Devils finish in pool play, they will begin championship bracket play either Friday night or Saturday morning.
In the first game against the Seminoles, the Devils' Bre DeSanta (9-4) pitched an excellent game despite suffering the loss. She held FSU to only three hits with nine strikeouts, while surrendering only one unearned run in the first inning. ASU's offense could not get going as they could manage only two hits off FSU starter Casey Hunter.
FSU's Veronica Wootson leadoff with a walk and then advanced to second on a passed ball. DeSanta then struck out the next batter, but Elisa Vasquez then flared a pitch into right field to score Wootson for the only run of the game.
The Devils best chance to tie the game up came in the fourth inning when Valerie Sevilla broke up Hunter's no hitter with a sharpe single up the middle. Sevilla then took second on a sacrifice bunt by Phelan Wright; However, Hunter then got the next two ASU batter to strikeout to end the scoring chance.
In the second game against UNLV, Desiree Serrano limited the Rebels to four hits with eight strikeouts, while the Devils' offense wasted no time in scoring as they tallied a pair of runs in the first inning. Sevilla opened the game with her team-leading 14th double into the right centerfield gap. Wright then unloaded on a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence for the 2-0 lead. The home run was Wright's team-leading 11th and 38th of her career.
ASU followed with three more runs in the second off UNLV pitcher Jacqueline Kerrigan and two Rebel errors. Jen McCard reached first when she was hit by a stray pitch from Kerrigan. Sevilla then single to right and Kristin Farber bunted to reach first, and to load the bases. Wright followed a high pop up to right field for the apparent sacrifice fly, but UNLV's Brittany Freight dropped the ball for the run scoring error. Ashley Werschky then hit a shot at the third baseman who misplayed the ball allowing Farber and Sevilla to score.
The Sun Devils tacked on one more run in the third inning. Kristin Crenshaw opened the frame with a single to left field and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Kim Zadrozny walked, McCard put down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up. Now with two outs, Farber beat out an infield hit to score Crenshaw for the final run.
Serrano posted her 13th win of the year along with her seventh complete game shutout. Sevilla finished with a 2 for 4 game with two runs scored, Farber also went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Crenshaw posted a multi-hit game as well, going 2 for 4 with a run, while Wright finished with three RBIs.