May 4, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - Behind a 17-hit barrage, the most hits in two years, the fourth-ranked Arizona State softball team (39-15, 9-8 Pac-10) defeated fifth-ranked California (45-18, 9-8 Pac-10), 8-4, tonight at Farrington Stadium. Four players had three hits, while two other players had two hits apiece.
Arizona State and California traded single runs in the first inning as ASU scored its run on a solo home run from Missy Hixon, while Cal's Candace Harper doubled in the lone run. Cal went up 2-1 in the second when Kristen Morely singled in Kristen Bayless. But in the bottom of the second, the Sun Devils unloaded five runs on the Golden Bears and would not trail again.
Erin Wardein started with a walk. After one out, Kristin Farber laid down a bunt for a single, moving Wardein to second. Amber Turner then replaced Wardein as a pinch runner. Brun and Turner then advanced to second and third on a wild pitch by Cal's Jen Deering. Nichole Thompson, who back in the first inning injured her ankle attempting to steal a base and was carried off the field, got back in the game and singled to left to drive in both runners.
Cal's Jocelyn Forest then replaced Deering and promptly served up back to back home runs to Kara Brun, her team-leading 10th, and Phelan Wright. Forest was then lifted for Cassie Bobrow who finished the rest of the game.
Cal would get one more back in the third, when Chelsea Spencer single in pinch runner Roni Rodrigues from third, and one more in the fifth to cut the lead to 6-4.
The Sun Devils ended the game with two more in the sixth off Bobrow. With the bases loaded, Beach singled in one run and Wardein collected the other RBI for the final 8-4 score.
Thompson, Brun, Wright and Beach each had three hits to pace the Sun Devils. Morley, Harper and Nelson each had two hits to lead Cal.
Beach (26-12) went the distance, giving up 11 hits and three earned runs. Deering (12-3) took the loss, scattering six hits and four earned runs.
Up next, the two teams meet a final time on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.