May 2, 2003
STANFORD, Calif. - Freshman Ashley Werschky (8-4) pitched arguably her best game of her career as she limited No. 15 Stanford (36-21; 5-11 Pac-10) to four hits and no runs as she lifted No. 16 Arizona State (29-19; 6-10 Pac-10) to a 1-0 win. Werschky also made several nice fielding plays to get potential base runners out on her way to her third combined shutout with four strikeouts.
The Sun Devils got on the board first in the fourth inning on a hit and two Stanford errors. Kristin Farber opened the inning by reaching first on an error by the shortstop Lauren Lappin. Kara Brun then hit a shot to deep right centerfield to move Farber to second. Now with two outs, Keri Pulcifer worked the count full from Stanford starter Dana Sorensen. On the next pitch, Pulcifer hit a ground ball to second baseman Kira Ching, but she could not come up clean with the ball as Farber came around to just beat the throw home for the 1-0 lead.
Stanford looked to tie the score in the bottom of the inning. Meghan Sickler reached on an infield hit and moved to second on a ground out to first. With two outs, Cassi Brangham hit the ball to deep short that clipped off Brun's glove, but Brun recovered in time to throw Sickler out at home to end the inning.
Stanford had one more chance in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on first and two outs. Werschky was relived by Desiree Serrano and proceeded to strikeout leadoff hitter Catalina Morris to end the game and post her seventh save of the year, tying the all-time record in a single season in the Pac-10.
Up next, the Sun Devils head over to Berkeley to take on No. 9 California on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.