April 23, 2005
TUCSON, Ariz. - After nearly an hour delay to start the game due to lightening, the fourth-ranked Arizona softball team (33-6, 7-4 Pac-10) used a 16-hit attack to score 10 runs and defeat 24th-ranked Arizona State (26-18, 1-11 Pac-10), 10-3 on Saturday night.
Taking a page out of Friday night's game, the Sun Devils took the early lead in the top of the first inning. With one out, Kim Zadrozny singled to center field off UA starting pitcher Taryne Mowatt. After striking out Valerie Sevilla for the second out, Heidi Knabe continued her torrid pace in the Pac-10 (batting .413) as she belted a two-run home run over the center field fence, her second of the year.
UA did get one run back in the bottom of the first, but could have been more. Caitlin Lowe opened the inning with a triple off ASU starting pitcher Katie Burkhart (10-10), only the second triple the Sun Devils have surrendered all season. Autumn Champion was then hit by a pitch, allowing Kristy Fox to bat next and single to left center field to score Lowe. Jackie Coburn followed with another single to left, but Champion was thrown out at third by left fielder Sevilla. Burkhart then got a fly out and a strikeout to end the inning and any further damage.
After ASU went down in order in the second inning, the Wildcats countered with four runs off five hits to take a 5-2 lead. With one out, Crystal Farley was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a single by Courtney Fossatti and scored on a Lowe single to center field. Champion followed with another single to load the bases, allowing Fox to hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Fossatti. Coburn also singled in a run, as well as Shelly Schultz to end the inning.
The Devils answered with a single run in the third inning. Zadrozny singled to center to open the frame, while Sevilla earned a walk. Leslie Wolfe (4-0) then relived Mowatt and struck out Knabe, however, Ashley Werschky singled to left field to plate Zadrozny and cut the UA lead to 5-3.
Again, the UA extended its lead one more time in the third inning when Fox hit a base loaded two-run single to center field. UA then extended its lead to 9-3 in the fifth inning. Fossatti doubled to center field and Lowe walked. Champion then grounded out moving Lowe to second and Fossatti to third. Another ground out by Fox scored Fossatti, while a Schultz single to center plated Lowe.
UA added it 10th run of the night in the sixth inning when with two outs, Lowe tripled in Fossatti, who earlier reached on a single to left field. Desiree Serrano relived Burkhart and struck out Champion to end the inning.
ASU attempted to get a run back in the seventh inning. Michelle Smith reached on a single back to the pitcher Wolfe, but a throwing error to first allowed Smith to reach second. After a ground out to move Smith to third, Wolfe then retired the next two batters to end the game.
Up next, the Sun Devils will continue on the road as they head to Corvallis, Oregon to face Oregon State on Friday, April 29 at 3:00 p.m.