ON TAP: The seventh-ranked Arizona State softball team (24-6, 0-0 Pac-10) will begin the real season this weekend as they start Pacific-10 Conference play at the Oregon schools. ASU will play doubleheaders against 18th-ranked Oregon State (17-8, 0-0 Pac-10) on Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m. and 22nd-ranked Oregon (24-10, 0-0 Pac-10) on Sunday, March 29 at 1 p.m.
DIAMOND DEVIL REVIEW: Last weekend ASU hosted its annual Diamond Devil Classic Softball Tournament, posting a perfect 5-0 record. Three of the wins were shutouts and two were ended early due to the mercy rule. During the three-day tournament, the Sun Devils outscored their opponents 22-3. In ASU first game, an 8-0 win over Stephen F. Austin, sophomore Chris Gill slugged the longest homerun in Sun Devil Club Stadium. The shot hit half way up the left field scoreboard, taking out several lights and was measured at approximately 240 ft. For the tournament, Gill had five hits, including a double, a triple and a home run. She also tallied seven RBIs and scored three times. Senior pitcher Roxanne Tsosie registered a perfect 3-0 record, including her first save of the season. Two of Tsosie's wins were shutouts and her save preserved another. Senior Carrie Breedlove posted two more wins, including her eighth shutout of the year. Breedlove allowed only six hits, giving up one unearned run while striking out eight. Junior Holly Smith had a 4 for 4 game against Steven F. Austin, including a triple, three RBIs and a run scored. In the bottom of the seventh, Smith also hit in the winning run in ASU 3-2 win over New Mexico. During ASU's other victory over New Mexico (2-1), somthing strange occured in the Devil's first inning that won't happen very often. Freshman Devyn Braga led off the game by hitting an inside the park home run, followed by senior Raja Woods inside the park home run.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: Oregon State is led by sophomore Tarrah Beyster, who was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week. Beyster has a .382 batting average and a .709 slugging percentage. She's tallied five home runs, three doubles and 14 RBIs. In the circle, Beyster is just as dominating, posting a 13-5 record with a 1.08 ERA. She has six shutouts and 95 Ks to her credit. Last season, the Beavers took three of four contest against ASU, but the Sun Devils hold a 41-10 overall record. The Oregon Ducks are led at the plate by Katie Mackey's .397 average. Jennie Cook's 13-8 record and 2.20 ERA leads the pitching staff. Oregon also likes to run, stealing 52 out of 57 attempts with Jill Robinson (14-14) and Tia Dumas (14-15) accounting for 54% of them. ASU and Oregon split its series last year, taking a game apiece in Tempe and Eugene. ASU holds a 24-18 mark in the overall series.
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, #3 Washington, #7 Arizona State, #14 Stanford, #18 Oregon State, #19 California, #22 Oregon).
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 and has a 0.80 ERA. In 90 innings of work, Breedlove has allowed only eight earned runs while opponents are batting .185. Breedloves's eight shutouts this year 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 36 of 49 bases. Eleven different players have stolen at least one base with Raja Woods leading the way with 14. Erin Hull is also off to a strong start, going 9 for 11.
OFFENSIVE NUMBERS: Arizona State is batting .302 as a team compaired to .188 for its opponents ... five players are batting .312 or over with Raja Woods hitting at a .395 clip ... the Devils have outscored their opponents 129-32, including 26-1 in the fourth inning ... all 12 players have at least one RBI, and as a team, ASU has 111 compaired to 27 for its opponents
SPECIAL 'K': Senior Roxanne Tsosie continues to accumulate the Ks. This year Tsosie has struckout 64 batters to raise her career total to 356. She is now third all-time in ASU history in career strikeouts, as well as career wins with 52. This week Tsosie was named Pacific-10 Pitcher of the Week for her stellar performance at the Diamond Devil Classic. Tsosie fired two shutouts and earned her first save of the season, preserving another shutout. For the tournament, Tsosie pitched 22 innings, allowing one earned run while striking out 14 for a 0.31 ERA. She has now won 13 of her last 14 starts and holds a 1.08 ERA.
POWER SURGE: The Sun Devils have hit eight home runs this season, including three inside the park. Chris Gill leads the team with three followd by Raja Woods two. The most home runs in the Wells' era occured in 1996 when the team hit nine.
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.