March 17, 2002
FULLERTON, Calif. - A furious rally in the bottom of the seventh came up just short as the eighth-ranked Arizona State softball team (28-7) fell to ninth-ranked Cal State Fullerton (26-9), 7-5 in the semifinals of the KIA Klassic Tournament in Fullerton, California.
Fullerton posted the first run in the top of the third off two hits. With Julie Watson on second base, catcher Jenny Topping lined a single into left field off ASU pitcher Erica Beach (17-4), scoring Watson.
Arizona State would get the run back in the bottom of the third off a two base throwing error by Topping. Jennifer Forner was hit by a pitch by Fullerton's Jodie Cox (8-4). Forner then stole second base and advanced all the way home when Topping over threw second base.
Fullerton would go back up on top in the fifth inning with five runs off five hits. With the bases loaded, Yasmin Mossadeghi singled to center field, driving in two runs. Fullerton tagged on two more runs on a fielder's choice and one more off a double to right field by Shawna Robinson.
In the sixth, the Titans tallied another run off two more hits, while ASU also posted another run off two hits. Forner started with a walk, followed by a Missy Hixon infield single for the first hit of the game. Phelan Wright then drilled her team-leading 12th double to center field, scoring Forner.
However, the Sun Devils would not go down with out one more fight in the bottom of the seventh. Adriana Garcia opened by getting on base off of an error by the shortstop. After two outs, ASU's furious rally started. Forner was hit by a pitch for the second time to put Holck (pinch ran for Garcia) on second. Hixson then hit an infield single to load the bases. After fouling off several pitches, Nichole Thompson lined a single to left filed, plating Holck. Wright followed with a single to center to score Forner and Hixon, cutting the lead to 7-5. Kara Brun then hit her ball to the Fullerton first baseman to end the two-out rally and the game.
Kristen Swetel started the game and faced the first four batters before Beach relived her for the final out. Beach would pitch the next four innings, allowing seven earned runs. Swetel would come back in for Beach and finish the rest of the game. Overall, Swetel went two and two-thirds innings with two hits and one strikeout.
Up next, Arizona State will host New Mexico on Friday, March 22 in a doubleheader starting at 7:00 p.m.