April 28, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - Behind three solo home runs from Kara Brun and back to back shots from Phelan Wright and Erica Beach, the fifth-ranked Arizona State softball team (38-13, 8-6 Pac-10) blanked Oregon (22-24, 1-14 Pac-10), 6-0, this afternoon at Farrington Stadium.
Beach (25-10) and Kirsten Voak combined for the shutout as Beach pitched the first five innings, allowing only four hits with four strikeouts. Voak relived Beach for the final two innings, giving up two hits with two strikeouts.
The Sun Devils quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second innings. Missy Hixon opened the game by getting walked on four straight pitches. Nichole Thompson then sacrificed Hixon to second, which was followed by a Wright single to center, scoring Hixon. ASU tagged on its second run when Hixon grounded out to second, scoring Voak who had walked earlier in the inning.
Oregon's Anissa Meashintubby (9-5) was then lifted for pitcher Connie McMurren. In the fifth inning, Arizona State posted two more runs off consecutive home runs by Wright and Beach. Wright's shot went over the center field wall, while Beach's tape measure blast went over the right field fence estimated at 250 feet.
Oregon did have one solid scoring chance in the third inning with runners on second and third, but was unable to score.
The Sun Devils would seal the game with two more runs in the sixth. With two outs, Brun launched the third home run of the day and her team-leading eighth over the left field fence. Wright and Beach then were both walked allowing Adriana Garcia's double to right field to score Wright for the final tally.
Up next, Arizona State travels to Tucson to face second-ranked Arizona for a mid-week single game on Tuesday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m.