April 12, 2002
EUGENE, Ore. - Behind three RBI performances from Erica Beach and Kara Brun, the sixth-ranked Arizona State softball team (34-9, 4-2 Pac-10) toppled the Oregon Ducks (18-16, 0-7 Pac-10), 9-1, in six innings today at Howe Field in Eugene. The game ended early under the eight-run mercy rule as ASU pounded out 11 hits.
The Sun Devils jumped on Oregon early and often as they scored three runs in the first and second innings. Brun posted her first RBI when she laced a double down the third base line, scoring Missy Hixon, who drew an opening inning walk. Beach then singled to center, driving in Brun followed another single to center by Adriana Garcia, scoring Beach.
In the second, Kirsten Voak drew another opening inning walk and was scored later by a Kristin Farber fielder's choice. Brun then came through with a two run single to left field to expand the lead to 6-0.
Arizona State tacked one more run on in the fourth inning off of a bases loaded single by Nichole Thompson. Oregon scored their lone run in the bottom of the fifth off of a bases loaded walk.
ASU would close out the game in the sixth inning with two more runs. Phelan Wright walked and was then followed by a Beach two-run blast over the center field fence. The homer was the third consecutive for Beach and fifth on the season, the reigning NFCA Division I National Player of the Week.
Beach ended the game, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Brun also went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored. Brun now has a team-leading 41 RBIs, good for fifth all-time in a single season and two shy of her all-time single season record. Thompson went 2-for-4 with one RBI, while Hixon and Farber scored two runs each.
Beach (21-6) pitched four and two-thirds innings, allowing only two hits with four strikeouts. Kristen Swetel pitched for one and a third innings, giving up one run on three hits with two strikeouts.
Up next, Arizona State travels over to Corvallis to face 14th-ranked Oregon State on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.