April 5, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State senior Erica Beach's two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning lifted eighth-ranked Arizona State (31-9, 1-2 Pac-10) to a 3-2 Pac-10 victory over top-ranked UCLA (33-5, 1-2 Pac-10) in front of 665 fans at Farrington Stadium Friday night.
The Sun Devils gained an early 1-0 advantage in the second inning. Phelan Wright began the inning by reaching on a fielding error by the Bruin third baseman. Beach then walked followed by Adriana Garcia being walked to load the bases. After UCLA turned a double play, Bonnie Brannen stepped to the plate a drove the ball to center field to score Beach.
UCLA would answer in the top of the third off of a Tairia Mims solo home run over the left field fence.
However, Arizona State would pull ahead for good in the fourth. Wright hit an infield single that Bruin shortstop Natasha Watley hurried, overthrowing the first baseman, letting Wright move to second. Beach then stroked UCLA pitcher Keira Goerl's (16-4) pitch over the right field fence to put ASU up 3-1.
Beach (19-6) pitched four and two thirds innings, allowing only four hits and one run. Kirsten Voak relived Beach in the fourth inning with two Bruins on base and two outs. Voak then got Claire Sua to ground out to end the threat.
In the seventh inning, UCLA would make it exciting as they cut the lead to 3-2. Watley ledoff with a two base error on a missed catch in the outfield. Amanda Freed then grounded out, moving Watley to third. Watley then scored on a pass ball, but that was all the Bruins would score as Stacey Nuveman lined out to left field to end the game.
Voak pitched two and one-third innings of no hit ball with no earned runs and one strikeout.
Up next, Arizona State hosts 10th-ranked Washington on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.