March 15, 2007
FULLERTON, Calif. - Katie Burkhart claimed a first in her career Thursday morning as No. 2 ASU Softball opened play in the 2007 Judi Garman Classic against Notre Dame. Burkhart's line tallied 13 strikeouts, zero hits and zero walks as she pitched her first collegiate perfect-game against the Irish, where two home runs powered the Sun Devils on to a 3-0 win. No. 2 ASU is now 28-2 on the season, with Burkhart holding a 12-1 record as Notre Dame falls to 8-9.
The Sun Devils scored first in the second inning as a lead-off solo home run to left center from Caylyn Carlson boosted the Devils up 1-0. They added another in the inning as Rhiannon Baca drew a walk which was later brought home with a 6-3 ground out RBI from Heidi Knabe.
ASU added another insurance run in the sixth inning as Rhiannon Baca launched her fifth home run of the season over the left field wall to bring the score to 3-0.
From there the Sun Devils let Katie Burkhart bring it home, as Burkhart claims the first perfect game for ASU since 1999 when All-American pitcher Erica Beach shut out Cal 4-0. The Sun Devils are now 9-2 all-time against the Irish and will return to action tomorrow as they take on Fresno State at 9 a.m. and #16 Louisiana-Lafayette at 6:15 p.m. (PT) in Fullerton, California.