Feb. 24, 2002
COLUMBUS, Ga. - The eighth-ranked Arizona State softball team (12-4) fell in the Silver Bracket semifinals to 10th-ranked Michigan, 5-1, Sunday to end tournament play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia.
Michigan opened the game with a single run in the first inning off one hit, but Arizona State answered in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Phelan Wright doubled to center field. Kara Brun followed with another double, this time to left field, to bring in Wright to tie the game.
Michigan would take the lead for good in the third. With two on and two outs, pitcher Marissa Young singled up the middle to drive in both runners for a 3-1 advantage. The Sun Devils would threaten in the bottom of the fifth. After back-to-back singles by Wright and Brun, Missy Hixon drilled a pitch off the first baseman's glove, but it deflected over to the second baseman who threw back to first just ahead of Hixon for the third out. Michigan would end the game by picking up two more runs in the seventh to stretch the lead to 5-1.
Arizona State out hit Michigan 7-5, but could not get timely hitting. Erica Beach (8-2) took the loss, allowing only five hits with four earned runs.
Up next, Arizona State will host Eastern Michigan in a doubleheader on Tuesday, February 26, starting at 4:00 p.m.