Feb. 13, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. - After two days of rain cancellations, the Arizona State University softball team (5-0) finally got back out to Farrington Stadium where they won both of their games Sunday at the Kajikawa Classic with a 3-2 victory over Sacramento State (5-3) and an 11-2 win over Utah State (2-4). The opening victory against Sacramento State earned Head Coach Linda Wells her 537 career win at Arizona State, surpassing coaching ledged Mary Littlewood for most wins in school history.
In the first game, the Hornets struck first in the third inning, touching ASU for two unearned runs off one hit and two errors. With two outs, leadoff hitter Lindy Winkler bunted, but catcher Heidi Knabe's throw to first pulled second baseman Jen McCard off the bag. McCard then misplayed a ball hit by Lesley Mayhorn to put runners on first and second. That allowed Erin Coyne to single into the left center field gap to drive in both runs off ASU starting pitcher Ashley Werschky (2-0).
The Devils answered in the bottom of the inning with three runs off consecutive doubles. McCard singled to right field, then Michelle Smith reached on an error by the shortstop for two on. Mindy Cowles continued her hot start as she belted a double into the left center field gap to drive in McCard and Smith. Valerie Sevilla followed with another double into the right center field gap to plate Cowles.
That was all the Devils needed as ASU's pitchers held Sacramento State in check for the final four innings. Desiree Serrano relived Werschky for the fifth and sixth innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts. Katie Burkhart pitched the final inning for her second save of the year, striking out two more Hornets.
In the second game against Utah State, ASU posted the first run in the top of the first inning. Smith walked and then stole second. Sevilla reached on an error by the shortstop, also advancing Smith to third. Knabe followed with a sharp single to center to drive in Smith.
But in the top of the third with one runner on, the No. 9 hitter for Utah State, Michell Vlahos, took ASU starting pitcher Serrano's (2-0) first pitch over the left field fence for the 2-1 lead.
However, ASU's bats came alive in a big way, unloading 10 runs over the final two innings to breeze to their fifth win of the season. In the sixth inning, Cowles delivered a two-run home run over the left field fence that went off the scoreboard. The blast was her team-leading third of the year and raising her RBI total to nine, also a team-high. Sharee Zaleski added an RBI single and Ciri Bryan added an RBI off a sacrifice fly.
In the seventh with the base loaded again, Zaleski, Himmita Hixson and Werschky all added bases loaded RBI singles, while Kim Zadrozny add a fielder's choice RBI.
Serrano went the distance, giving up five hits and two runs with six strikeouts. Smith went 2 for 4 with three runs scored, while Knabe and Zaleski each had two hits and two runs scored.
Up next, ASU will host Hawai'i in a mid-week doubleheader on Wednesday, February 16 with the first game starting at 5:00 p.m.
Final results from the Kajikawa Softball Classic:
Farrington Stadium:
Syracuse_2_vs._1_UCLA
Wisconsin_0_vs._9_South Carolina (6)
Arizona State_3_vs._2_Sacramento State
Arizona State_11_vs._2_Utah State
Tempe Sports Complex:
Massachusetts_0_vs._8_Texas A&M (5)
Tenn-Chattanooga_0_vs._4_Texas A&M
Tenn-Chattanooga_0_vs._8_Arizona (6)
School (W-L) Winning Percentage
Arizona State (2-0) 1.000
Texas A&M (2-0) 1.000
Arizona (1-0) 1.000
Syracuse (1-0) 1.000
South Carolina (1-0) 1.000
Wisconsin (0-1) .000
Utah State (0-1) .000
UCLA (0-1) .000
Massachusetts (0-1) .000
Sacramento State (0-1) .000
Tenn-Chattanooga (0-2) .000