March 16, 2005
FULLERTON, Calif. - Freshman pitcher Katie Burkhart threw a one-hit complete game shutout and four different players recorded RBIs to lift the 21st-ranked Arizona State softball team (24-5) to a 4-0 shutout win in the opening pool game of the KIA Klassic on Wednesday. Burkhart (9-2) allowed only a third inning bunt single, while striking out nine batters.
ASU looked to do some damage in the top of the first off Syracuse starting pitcher Courtney Mosch. With one out, Rhiannon Baca walked and was moved to second when Mindy Cowles singled to right field. After a ground out moved Baca to third and Cowles to second, Sharee Zaleski was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But Mosch got Heidi Knabe to ground out to end the inning.
The Devils did break through in the second inning for one run. Jen McCard opened the inning getting hit by a pitch. Ashley Werschky followed with a fielder's choice to third base, but the second baseman missed the ball at the attempted force on McCard at second. Mosch then struck out the next two batters, but Baca followed with an infield hit to load the bases. Cowles worked Mosch for a bases loaded walk as McCard came home.
In the fifth inning, ASU posted one more run when Knabe doubled a two out pitch to right center field, scoring Cowles from third.
ASU added two more runs in the seventh off one hit. With one out, Zaleski reached on passed ball and was replaced by Himmita Hixson for pinch running purposes. Hixson then stole second and Knabe walked for two on. McCard took a 0-2 pitch from relief pitcher Erin Downey and singled to center to score Hixson and move Knabe to third. Werschky followed with a ground out to first, but it allowed Knabe to scamper home for the fourth run.
Cowels and Werschky each had two hits and drove in one run apiece.
Up next, the Sun Devils will continue pool play on Thursday against eighth-ranked Oklahoma at 1:30 p.m.