April 15, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. - Bianca Cruz went 2-for-4 with a run scored, five RBIs and a grand slam Sunday afternoon as the No. 8 Sun Devil Softball team topped the No. 17 Stanford Cardinal 8-2 to sweep the weekend with three conference wins. The Sun Devils are now 39-10 overall and 5-3 in conference play as the Cardinal falls to 27-12 and 3-6 in the Pac-10.
Stanford struck first in the game as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first after a walk to Alissa Haber was brought around with a single to right center from Shannon Koplitz and a sac fly from Maddy Coon. The Cardinal added another run in the top of the third as Alissa Haber took a 3-1 pitch deep to center field for a solo shot to put the Cardinal up 2-0.
The rally didn't last long though as ASU took one back in the bottom of the inning as Michelle Smith came home on a wild pitch to put the score at 2-1. The Devils added two in the fifth with RBI singles from Bianca Cruz and Ashley Muenz before ASU went on a scoring spree in the sixth sparked with a solo home run to right center from Mindy Cowles. A single and two walks later, Bianca Cruz dug in with bases loaded to take a 1-0 pitch deep to left center for her third career grand slam, pushing ASU to their final score of 8-2.
The Sun Devils remain at home this week as they host Pac-10 and in-state rival, Arizona Wednesday night in part two of the `Duel In the Desert'. The game is set for a 7 p.m. first pitch in Tempe at Farrington Stadium.