Friday, April 3
No. 4 Washington
Tempe
6:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 4
UCLA
Tempe
6:00 p.m.
ON TAP: The seventh-ranked Arizona State softball team (26-8, 2-2 Pac-10) will begin its first Pac-10 competition at home when they host fourth-ranked Washington (21-6, 2-2 Pac-10) on Friday at 6:00 p.m. (shown on Cox Communication Ch. 22) and UCLA (10-9, 0-2 Pac-10) on Saturday also at 6:00 p.m. Both doubleheaders will be played at Sun Devil Club Stadium, located behind the football practice field, adjacent to the Karsten Golf Course.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: Arizona State came away with a split at the Oregon schools, dropping the first game in each contest and winning the second. Against 18th-ranked Oregon State, both pitchers dominated the two-game series as a total of three runs were scored between the schools. The Sun Devils could only manufacture five hits in the first game, losing 2-0 to then Pac-10 Player of the Week Tarrah Beyster. Carrie Breedlove suffered another tough loss as she had a one hitter into the sixth inning before allowing the Beavers to score twice. Game two featured another outstanding pitching performance by ASU's Roxanne Tsosie. The reigning Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week, Tsosie worked eight innings for the 1-0 shutout, limiting OSU to two hits while striking out six. The Sun Devils scored the winning run in the eighth on Holly Smith's clutch two-out single that drove in Chris Gill. In Eugene against the 22nd-ranked Ducks, ASU allowed the most runs scored on them this season as Oregon won easily 13-2 in the opening game. In the second game, ASU bounced back for a 5-3 win behind Tsosie's arm as well as some timely hitting. Eight Sun Devil batters had at least one hit, including Chris Gill's team-leading fourth home run. Devyn Braga went 2 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Tsosie knotched her team-high 16th win, allowing three runs while striking out four. Kathy Ponce also had a good weekend with six hits, scoring twice to raise her average to .333.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: Washington brings a formative pitching staff to Tempe with three pitchers combining for a 0.94 ERA. Local valley product Jamie Graves (Moon Valley) leads the staff with a 8-2 record and a 0.64 ERA. Rosie Leutzinger leads the Huskies at the plate with a .352 avg., including three doubles and two triples. UW loves to run, talling 77 swipes out of 83 (93%). UCLA is ineligible for postseason, redshirting six of their top players. Erin Weiler leads the Bruins in the circle with a 6-3 record and a 0.65 ERA. Kim Wuest is batting .382 with four doubles and four homers. She is now the Bruins all-time home run leader with 21.
POWER CONFERENCE: Again this year, like many others in the past, the Pacific-10 Conference boasts some of the best softball in the country. Seven of the eight schools in the conference are ranked in the top 25, with four schools ranked in the top 15. (#1 Arizona, #4 Washington, #7 Arizona State, #13 Stanford, #17 California, #21 Oregon, #22 Oregon State).
BIRD'S NEST: Senior pitcher Carrie Breedlove, affectionately called "Bird" has already garnered USA Today/NFCA National Player of the Week honors, as well as earning Pacific-10 Pitcher of the Week honors, twice. Breedlove has fired two no hitters (Detroit/Ball St.), posted eight shutouts (2nd Pac-10) and has a 1.20 ERA. In 99 innings of work, Breedlove has struckout 86 (6.08 so/g) while opponents are batting .195. Breedlove's eight shutouts have already surpassed her career total of seven.
RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL: Last year the Sun Devils set a new school stolen bases record, swiping 107 out of 124 chances (86%). This season the Sun Devils are picking up where they left off having swiped 40 of 54 bases (74%). Ten different players have stolen at least one base with Raja Woods leading the way with 15. Erin Hull is also coming on strong start, going 9 for 11.
SPECIAL 'K': Senior Roxanne Tsosie continues to accumulate the Ks. This year Tsosie has struckout 74 batters to raise her career total to 366. She is now third all-time in ASU history in career strikeouts, as well as career wins with 54. In addition, Tsosie was named Pacific-10 Pitcher of the Week (3/24) for her stellar performance at the Diamond Devil Classic. Tsosie fired two shutouts and earned her first save of the season, preserving another shutout. Last weekend against 18th-ranked Oregon St. Tsosie earned her fifth shutout in an eight inning two hit performance. Tsosie, second in the Pac-10 in wins, has now won 15 of her last 16 starts and holds a 0.91 ERA.
POWER SURGE: The Sun Devils have hit nine home runs this season, including three inside the park. Chris Gill leads the team with four followd by Raja Woods two. This year's nine homers have already tied for the most in the Linda Wells' era.
SCOREBOARD: Sophomore Chris Gill is lighting up the scoreboard this year with the long ball. So far, Gill has smashed four home runs, including a shot off of ASU's left field scoreboard that was measured at 240 ft. (It's belived to be the longest in Sun Devil Club history) Gill, slugging at a .505 clip, is now tied for fifth all-time in career homers and is sixth all-time on the single-season list .
DEVILS IN THE POLLS: Arizona St., picked to finish fifth in the Pac-10, is currently ranked seventh in the nation. The highest ASU has been ranked in the Wells' era occured in '91 when they reach No. 4.
MEDIA INFORMATION: All publicity for the ASU softball team are coordinated by softball publicist Will Phillips at (602) 965-1237. Any interviews with Sun Devil softball players or coaches should be arranged through Phillips with at least 48 hours notice.
ON THE AIR: Arizona State's game against California on Saturday, May 2 at 1 p.m. will be televised live on FOX Sports Net. Also, the game against Washington on Friday, April 3 at 6 p.m. will be televised on Cox Communication Channel 22.
Sun Devil Milestones
Carrie Breedlove 4 wins for 50
20 starts for 100
23 innings for 500
15 strikeouts for 300
Chris Gill 23 hits for 100
20 RBI for 75
Erin Hull 54 at-bats for 500
13 runs for 100
6 hits for 150
Holly Smith 24 hits for 100
18 RBI for 75
Roxanne Tsosie 6 wins for 60
9 complete games for 60
12 innings for 600
34 strikeouts for 400
Linda Wells 10 wins for 300 at ASU
9 wins for 650 career
Raja Woods 6 hits for 100
7 RBI for 50
19 runs for 75
9 stolen bases for 50
ASU Record Breakdown
Pac-10 2-2
Non-Conference 24-6
Against Ranked Teams 7-5
Against Unranked Teams 19-3
Home Games 11-1
Road Games 2-2
Neutral Sites 13-5
Day Games 15-6
Night Games 11-2
Vs. Right Handed Starters 25-8
Vs. Left Handed Starters 1-0
Extra Innings 3-1
One Run Game 7-4
Two Run Game 4-3
Five Run (+) Game 11-1
Shutouts 13-5
ASU Scores First 23-5
Opponent Scores First 1-6
Out-Hit Opponents 24-6
Out-Hit by Opponents 2-4
February 13-2
March 13-6
April 0-0
May 0-0
Last 5 Games 3-2
Last 10 Games 8-2
Current Win Streak 1