March 28, 2008
BERKELEY, Calif. - Sparked by Katie Crabb's two-run homerun in the sixth inning, the No. 1 Arizona State Softball team climbed back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the No. 23 Cal Golden Bears 4-2 in their Pac-10 opener in Berkeley Friday afternoon. The Sun Devils are now 37-2 overall and 1-0 in the Pac-10 as Cal falls to 31-11 and 0-1.
The game proved to be a pitchers duel as touted with aces Katie Burkhart and Marissa Drewery taking the mound for ASU and Cal and keeping the scores knotted at zeros through five. The Sun Devils had an opportunity in the second as they loaded the bases with one out, but Drewery masterfully pitched out of the situation with a fielder's choice and a strike out.
While the Sun Devils were struggling to put one across, the Bears came out strong in the fifth taking advantage of the rain falling as Katie Burkhart allowed a rare walk and wild pitch before Gina Leomiti hit a 3-1 pitch deep to right center for a two run home run, her seventh of the year to give Cal the lead after five.
The Sun Devils had something to say though as they came out guns blazing in the sixth with a double to right center from Lesley Rogers was brought home as Katie Crabb crushed her third home run of the season as she launched and 0-1 pitch over the left field wall to tie it at two apiece. The weren't finished yet though as Jackie Vasquez cracked a double to left field and was brought home on a rocket to the right field wall that was just inches short of going over as Mindy Cowles collected her first triple on the season.
The spark was enough for the Sun Devils as they shut down the Golden Bears in the sixth and came out to add yet another run in the seventh as Caylyn Carlson took a 2-1 pitch back to right field for her sixth home run on the season.
Katie Burkhart took the helm to cruise the Sun Devils to their 37th win as she shut down the Bears as she allowed only two runs and struck out seven on the day en route to her 18th win of the season.
The Sun Devils will head across the Bay tomorrow to continue Pac-10 play and take on the fifth-ranked Stanford Cardinal in Palo Verde. Game time is at 1 p.m. PT.