March 7, 2006
Las Vegas, Nev. - The #12 Arizona State Softball Team wrapped up the UNLV Invitational Sunday afternoon with an exhibition game against Team China, which saw the Devils beat them 2-0 at Anthem Hills Park in Henderson, Nev.
The Devils were the only team to beat the Chinese National Team in the Invitational, as Virginia Tech, the only team to defeat ASU thus far in the season fell to China in a 7-0 exhibition game on Monday at Eller Media Stadium at UNLV.
For the Devils, Katie Burkhart took to the mound and almost single-handedly shutdown China with nine strikeouts and only two hits allowed on the day.
She wasn't alone however as her teammates defense backed her up, making some amazing plays on the day.
In the second inning, the left-fielder, Z.L. Fang stepped up to hit a huge single to left-field, though she midjudged left-fielder Jackie Vasquez's speed and throwing arm as she tried to advance to second and was thrown out on a run-down in the basepath.
Another huge play for the Devils was catcher Kristen Miller who threw out L.C. Xia as she tried to steal second after reaching first on a walk.
In the sixth, China surged to try again as Y.Y. Hong crushed a triple to left-center, but as she went for the in-park home run, was thrown out on a huge play from Samantha Zadel to Bianca Cruz to Kristen Miller to catch Hong out at home.
The Devil defense and pitching also kept the Chinese team to only three hitters in every inning as well.
The Devils' bats got moving slowly, but they were eventually able to get rolling as they did tally three hits on the day against the tough National Team.
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The scoreboard remained blank until Delenah Langley advanced to first on a walk and then stole second, only to be hit around with a sacrifice bunt from Jackie Vasquez and a ball hit steaming on the ground to the shortstop from Bridgette Caron.
The Devils also struck again in the fourth as catcher, Kristen Miller cranked a single up the middle to start off the inning.
With Jessica Mapes running for Miller, Mapes quickly stole second and after a 6-2 fielder's choice to advance her to third from Zaleski, was hit home by Marisa Trevino with a single through the middle.
The Devils returned home with a 7-1 record on the weekend and now stand at 21-1 as they head to Santa Clara this Thursday to take on the Broncos before heading to San Jose to play in the NIST Tournament over the weekend.