May 6, 2007
EUGENE, Ore. - A phenomenal come-from-behind rally against the No. 18 Oregon Ducks fell just short Sunday afternoon as the No. 9 Sun Devil softball team fell 6-5 in Eugene. Mindy Cowles extended her hold as the ASU all-time career home run leader on the day hitting her fourth of the weekend and 42nd home run of her career in the loss. The Sun Devils are now 47-14 overall and 11-7 in conference play as the Ducks improve to 40-16 and 5-13 in the Pac-10.
With Megan Elliott on the mound the Ducks found their way on the scoreboard first after a leadoff single to Suzie Barnes, who after stealing second was brought home by leading batter, Jennifer Salling, who steamed an 0-1 pitch down the right line for a double to give Oregon the lead.
The Sun Devils made the lead short-lived though as in the top of the third off three straight singles, Kaitlin Cochran stepped up with the bases loaded and no outs to send the first pitch of her at bat deep to left field with the sacrifice fly bringing home Rhiannon Baca to knot it at one apiece. The Ducks made the tie short-lived though as they rattled off five runs in the bottom of the third, capped with Neena Bryant's grand slam to left field, her second of the season to bring the score to 6-1 after three.
Not one to give in, the Sun Devils stormed back to score four runs off four hits with Mindy Cowles hitting her fourth home run of the season as she took a 2-1 pitch deep to right to plate three, which cut the Ducks' lead to one, with game score at 6-5. The rally wasn't enough though as Alicia Cook tamed the Devils for the rest of the game as Oregon held onto the lead.
Up next the Sun Devils return home for their final Pac-10 series of the season as they set to host the No. 15 UCLA Bruins and No. 14 Washington Huskies next Thursday through Saturday in Tempe at Farrington Stadium.