April 16, 2005
SEATTLE, Wash. - A season-high four Arizona State errors accounted for four unearned runs as the 24th-ranked Washington softball team (20-14, 2-5 Pac-10) shutout the 21st-ranked Sun Devils (26-15, 1-8 Pac-10), 8-0, in a five inning shortened, run-rule game in Seattle on Saturday afternoon.
The Devils squandered a golden opportunity to take an early lead in the third inning, but instead stranded two runners in scoring position. Heidi Knabe led off the inning with an infield single off UW starting pitcher Caitlin Noble (8-6). Rhiannon Baca reached first with a bunt single, moving Knabe to second. After Bridgette Caron grounded out to advance Knabe to third and Baca to second, Noble then struck out Michelle Smith and Mindy Cowles to end the threat.
UW then posted four runs in the bottom of the third off a two-out rally and the help of ASU's first error. After ASU starting pitcher Desiree Serrano (10-5) quickly retired the first two batters, Dominique Lastrapes singled to center, but an error on ASU center fielder Valerie Sevilla advanced Lastrapes all the way to third. Serrano then intentionally walked Kristen Rivera and also walked Sarah Hyatt to load the bases. UW's Aimee Minor then singled to left to plate two runs, while Kathy Fiske followed with a double to left to score the other two runs.
In the fourth inning, the Huskies collected four more runs off three more Sun Devil errors. After loading the bases off one ASU error, Rivera reached on another ASU fielding error as two runs came across. Ashley Werschky relived Serrano and gave up an infield single to Hyatt to plate one more run. Werschky then struck out the next batter for the second out, but ASU's defense failed again as Fiske reached base on the Devils third infield error of the game, allowing Rivera to score for the final 8-0 score.
Serrano took the loss as she pitched three and a third innings, allowing eight runs, four earned off six hits with five strikeouts. Noble pitched all five innings giving up four hits with seven strikeouts.
Up next, the Sun Devils will finish the two-game set against UW on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.