March 4, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. - Freshman pitcher Katie Burkhart threw her first career no-hitter, including 13 strikeouts as the Arizona State University softball team (15-3) topped San Diego State (12-7), 1-0 in the first game of the Louisville Slugger Triangular Friday night at Farrington Stadium. In the second game, junior pitcher Desiree Serrano struck out a career-high 14 batters en route to a 5-0, three-hit shutout over Southern Utah.
Burkhart and SDSU pitcher Cori Janelli had a pitcher's duel through out the game. Janelli (5-5) allowed one run on four hits with 13 strikeouts. Burkhart, who was one out away from a perfect game last Wednesday night against Eastern Michigan, continued her torrid pace. In her past three starts, Burkhart is 3-0 with two shutouts, allowed only eights hits and one run with 37 strikeouts.
Burkhart had eight strikeouts through the first four innings of work. The Sun Devils scored the dramatic game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh off a base-loaded squeeze bunt. With one out, Ashley Werschky walked and was moved to second when Jen McCard reached on an infield hit to third. Rhiannon Baca was then hit by a full count pitch to load the bases for Himmita Hixson. After taking a strike, Hixson laid down a bunt to the pitcher, but her throw home was not in time to get a sliding Werschky for the winning run.
Mindy Cowles led the ASU offense as she had three of the team's four hits.
In the second game against Southern Utah, Serrano (6-1) was nearly un-hittable as well, as SUU collected only three hits. ASU broke on top with three runs in the fifth inning off four hits and three Thunderbird errors. Cowles and Baca each reached on singles. Valerie Sevilla then hit into a fielder's choice to the second baseman, but her throw to second to force out Baca went wide and into left field allowing Cowles to score. However, the left fielder then fired the ball to home, but that throw was also high and wide letting Sevilla go to second and Baca to third. Werschky singled in Baca for the second run and Sharee Zaleski plated Sevilla when she hit a double.
ASU tacked on the final two runs in the sixth inning off three more hits. Cowles doubled and was driven home by another double by Baca. After a ground out to move Baca to third, Sevilla singled to right to score Baca for the final run.
Serrano struck out 10 SUU batters and four batters two times, including a string of six in a row and nine of 10 batters from the end of the first inning to the middle of the fourth.
Cowles went 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored, while Baca went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Sevilla and Werschky also contributed with two hits a piece and one RBI.
Up next, the triangular continues on Saturday as ASU takes on San Diego State at 12:00 p.m. and Southern Utah at 2:00 p.m.