April 14, 2006
- For the first time since 2002 the No. 9 Sun Devil Softball team in front of a new all-time home attendance record of 1,689 defeated the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats (31-7, 2-4 Pac-10) Friday night in an extra inning pitching duel with the Sun Devils taking the win in ten innings, 4-2.
Katie Burkhart got the starting nod for the Sun Devils with Alicia Hollowell taking to the mound for the `Cats. Both pitchers threw well as Hollowell compiled 15 strikeouts on the night and Burkhart grabbing win number 18 on the season and jumping into NCAA record books again by fanning 22, which ties her for sixth in NCAA history in strikeouts per game.
The `Cats pounced first after a Sun Devil error allowed Autumn Champion to gain first with Kristie Fox stepping up to crush a ball over center field, upping Arizona 2-0.
UA held the Sun Devils scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning when the Sun Devils surged back to tie the score at two with a lead-off walk to Rhiannon Baca followed with a two-run shot over center field from pinch-hitter, Sharee Zaleski to keep the Devils alive and send it to extra innings.
The pitching battle resumed in extra innings as both Hallowell and Burkhart were nearly flawless, even with runners in scoring positions for both teams. In came down to the tenth inning when a single from Kaitlin Cochran was hit home by a blast over left center from Rhiannon Baca, her sixth of the season, bringing home the win for the Devils.
The `Cats will look to take one back from the Sun Devils as they are set to face off again tomorrow night in-front of another sold-out crowd at 7 p.m. at ASU's Farrington Stadium.