Feb. 23, 2003
CLASSIC COLUMBUS, Ga. - After rains halted Saturday night's game against Liberty, the 14th-ranked Arizona State softball team (14-3) came back Sunday morning and defeated Liberty 11-5 in only their second game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia. The Sun Devils then shutout 21st-ranked Ohio State, 1-0 in their final game of the rain-shorten tournament to move to a perfect 3-0.
Highlights of the Liberty game included a three-run home run by Kara Brun and a two run home run by Adriana Garcia in the third inning. Billie Akauola had a breakout game, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs as she drilled her first career home run over the left centerfield fence and also had a triple. The Devils also executed a double steal with Kim Zadrozny stealing second and Garcia swiping home. Ashley Werschky (2-0) started the game and went the first four innings before she was relived by Susan Aguliar who pitched the fifth and sixth. Desiree Serrano then came in with the bases loaded in the seventh and allowed one run on a walk before retiring the side to end the game.
Against the Buckeyes, ASU starting pitcher Desiree Serrano (9-2) loaded the bases in the second inning on a pair of hits by Kristi DeVries and Jennifer Johnson followed by two fielder's choice, but Serrano then struckout the next batter and got the following Buckeye to fly out to left for the second out. With the bases still loaded, Serrano got Meghan Rowlands to hit the ball back to her to get out of the jam.
The Devils got on the board first in the fourth as that was the only score of the game. Kristin Farber worked OSU pitcher Katie Chain (1-2) for a walk after going down 0-2 in the count. After Valerie Sevilla sacrificed Farber to second, Phelan Wright singled to center to drive in Farber for the 1-0 lead.
That was all Serrano would need as she shut down the rest of the Buckeyes, en route to a five strikeouts game.
Up next, Arizona State will host Oklahoma and UC Riverside in round robin games next weekend, February 28 - March 2.