April 26, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. - A phenomenal three-hit complete-game effort with 10 strikeouts from Megan Elliott was combined with ASU's unstoppable offense Friday night as No. 1 Softball took a 6-1 win from the Oregon Ducks in Tempe at Farrington Stadium. The win gives ASU a 51-3 overall record and 13-1 conference record as the Ducks fall to 29-21 overall and 2-10 in conference play.
The Sun Devils didn't hesitate to start the night off on fire as they put three on the board from an RBI-double to left center from Krista Donnenwirth followed up with a two-run home run from Mindy Cowles as she launched a 0-1 pitch to left center for her 13 long ball of the season.
The Ducks rallied back in the second with a solo shot to right field as Monique Fuiava pulled the count full before launching one to cut ASU's lead to 3-1. Megan Elliott took the reigns back after that, throwing the next five innings nearly flawlessly for her first career complete-game Pac-10 victory.
The offense wasn't done on the night yet though, as they came back in the third inning with four hits to put two runs on Brittany Rumfelt's tab before Rumfelt was replaced by Melissa Rice in the third.
Rice held the Oregon defense steady until the fourth when the Sun Devils decided to add one last run to the tally as Mindy Cowles hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Kaitlin Cochran and cement the 6-1 lead.
The Sun Devils will hit the diamond again tomorrow looking to sweep their third Pac-10 series as they take on the Ducks Sunday at noon in Tempe at Farrington Stadium.