Feb. 10, 2002
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. - The eighth-ranked Arizona State softball team (5-1) split its final two games of the Fiesta Bowl Tournament today, falling to Kansas, 3-2 and run-ruling New Mexico State, 8-0 in five innings.
In the first game against Kansas, Arizona State senior pitcher Kirsten Voak set a new all-time strikeout record in Sun Devil history with 810 strikeouts, breaking the 20 year old record by Lucy Caserez (1982). Despite the losing effort, Voak (2-1) fanned five Kansas batters.
ASU jumped out to a 2-0 lead after posting single runs in the first and second innings. However, the Jayhawks hit back -to-back home runs in the fourth inning to tie the game, then went ahead in the fifth inning. The Sun Devils never got anything going from the fourth inning on when Nichole Thompson tripled, but was left stranded on the base. Jennifer Forner led ASU with a 2-for-3 game, while Missy Hixon and Erica Beach each added a RBI.
In the second game against New Mexico State, Beach (3-0) tossed her second straight one-hit game, nearly pulling off the no-hitter as she surrender the sole hit with one out in the fifth inning. The Sun Devils unloaded six runs on the Aggies in the first two innings. ASU ended the game by the eight-run mercy rule with another run in the fourth and one in the fifth.
Thompson had a perfect game at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Adriana Garcia provided three RIBs, while Beach added two more RBIs to raise her all-time school record to 127. Through the three games Beach has pitched in the early season, she has not allowed an earned run for a unblemished 0.00 ERA, giving up only five hits with 19 strikeouts.
Up next, Arizona State will host the Louisville Slugger Classic Tournament Friday, February 15 through Sunday, February 17 at Farrington Stadium. Teams involved in the tournament include Illinois State, Iowa, Michigan State and Oklahoma State.
Complete Results From The Final Day Of The Fiesta Bowl Tournament:
Nebraska _6_ vs. _0_ New Mexico St.
UCLA _9_ vs. _0_ Utah St. (6)
Texas Tech _1_ vs. _7_ Fresno St.
Arizona _1_ vs. _0_ Umass (9)
Arizona St. _2_ vs. _3_ Kansas
UCLA _4_ vs. _0_ SW Texas St.
UNLV _2_ vs. _6_ Texas A&M
Arizona _0_ vs. _3_ Wisconsin
Arizona St. _8_ vs. _0_ New Mexico St. (5)
California _2_ vs. _3_ SW Texas St.
CS Fullerton _9_ vs. _1_ Texas (5)