April 8, 2011
EUGENE, Ore. Ð In a gritty pitchers duel the No. 3 Sun Devil Softball team emerged the victor as Katelyn Boyd hit a two run home run to make the difference in Dallas EscobedoÕs one-hit gem Friday night as they topped the No. 16 Oregon Ducks 2-0 to move to 36-3 overall on the year and 3-1 in Pac-10 play as Oregon falls to 29-7 and -1-3 in conference play with Escobedo moving to 18-2 on the year.
The opening match-up against the Ducks didnÕt disappoint as it slated Pac-10 elites Dallas Escobedo who entered with a 16-2 record versus Jessica Moore with a 14-4 entry record.
Both pitchers came out to dominate through the first six innings with the Sun Devils only mustering up two hits against Moore and the Ducks only one against a lights -out Escobedo who racked up seven strikeouts in the outing.
The difference came in the seventh though as Christina Zambrana reached first on a hit by pitch before Katelyn Boyd played the hero taking a 1-0 pitch yard to right center for her 12th home of the year and give ASU the 2-0 lead and the win.
The Sun Devils will return for game two tomorrow against No. 16 Oregon taking on the Ducks at 3 p.m. in Eugene at Howe Field.