March 14, 2003
FULLERTON, Calif. - The 12th-ranked Arizona State softball team (23-9) scored once in the sixth inning to edge UNLV, 2-1 to take third in Pool A at the KIA Klassic Tournament in Fullerton, California. The Devils will now be seated in bracket play and will play again on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. against a team to be determined later today.
ASU got on the board first with a lone run in the fourth inning. Kara Brun, who extended her team-leading hitting streak to 13 games, singled to left field. Phelan Wright then hit a shot to the UNLV shortstop who could not come up with the ball attempting to force out Brun at second. With one out and runners on first and second, Adriana Garcia laced a single to center field, scoring Brun for the 1-0 lead.
UNLV opened the fourth with a base runner when Lisa Moses reached on an infield error by second baseman Jen McCard. After sacrificing Moses to second, the next UNLV batter walked to put two runners on as Susan Aguilar (2-0) then came in relief of starter Cheryl Evans. Aguilar followed with a strikeout for the second out, but the next Rebel batter, Sam Sardinha drop a single in to short right field scoring Moses to tie the game.
The Devils then would seal the game with another run in the sixth. Garcia opened with a walk and was then lifted for pinch runner Billie Akauola. After a pass ball by UNLV catcher Britney Hillyer to advance Akauola to second, Evans singled to right field as Akauola went to third. That set up Ashley Werschky's ground out to short to plate Akauola for the game-winner.
Desiree Serrano pitched the final two innings for her fourth save of the year as she faced six batters, striking out three. Aguilar earned the win, in an inning and two-thirds of work. The three pitchers combined to limit the Rebels to only three hits. UNLV's Jackie Kerrigan went the distance, allowing six hits and two runs with five strikeouts.