Feb. 27, 2005
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - The Arizona State University softball team (11-3) dropped their final game of the Palm Springs Classic on Sunday to Kansas (7-7), 3-0. The Sun Devils end the tournament with a 4-1 record.
Kansas opened the game with a pair of runs in the top of the first off ASU starter Desiree Serrano (5-1). Cyndi Duran led off with and infield single and advanced to third off a hit and run by Destiny Frankenstein. After a ground out, Serena Settlemier laced a single into left field to score Duran while Nettie Fierros followed with a sacrifice bunt that scored Frankenstein from third. Serrano then struck out the next batter to end the inning.
In the third inning, Kansas' top of the lineup looked to inflict more damage. Duran and Frankenstein each flared a soft single into left field and were each moved over one base off a Jessica Moppin sacrifice. Settlemier, who was also the starting pitcher for Kansas, was intentionally walked to load the bases. But Serrano got the next batter to pop out to short and ended the inning with a fly to right field.
ASU had a chance to get back into the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Valerie Sevilla singled to center. After Settlemier got the second out on a fly ball, Ciri Bryan reached on an infield hit, moving Sevilla to second. Ashley Werschky also singled to left to load the bases, but Settlemier got Sharee Zaleski to pop out to second to end the threat.
Kansas added one more run on in the sixth inning off two sacrifices for the 3-0 lead. Ashley Goodrich opened the frame with a single to center and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Goodrich was then sacrificed to third and drive home on a sacrifice fly to center field. Kansas then put two more runners on when Werschky relived Serrano to strike out the final batter.
The Devils tried to push across one run in the bottom of the sixth with two outs. Heidi Knabe doubled to left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was stranded there when Bryan grounded out to short.
ASU had one more change to get on the board in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Zaleski singled to left and was then lifted for pinch runner Michelle Smith. Kim Zadrozny, who came in an inning earlier at third base, followed with a flair into center field. Himmita Hixson then flew out to left field for the second out. Settlemier then walked Mindy Cowles on four pitches to load the bases, but Rhiannon Baca flied out to right field to end the game.
Up next, ASU will host Eastern Michigan in a mid-week doubleheader on Wednesday, March 2 with the first game starting at 5:00 p.m.