Feb. 9, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. - The 13th-ranked Arizona State softball team (6-3) struggled on the final day of the Fiesta Bowl Softball Tournament, dropping both games to Utah, 5-3 and 25th-ranked Massachusetts, 5-2 in eight innings. The Devils ended the tournament with a 3-3 record.
In the first game against Utah, ASU pitcher Cheryl Evans (2-1) struggled early with her control as the Utes scored two runs in the first and second innings to take a quick 4-0 lead. Susan Aguilar then replaced Evans in the third inning and would hold Utah in check allowing only more unearned run for the next four innings.
The Devils would get one run back in the fourth off of an Adriana Garcia sacrifice fly to left field and two more in the sixth off of a Phelan Wright two-run home run. However, Utes' pitcher Heather Bowlin kept ASU off the board to pick up the win. Bowlin allowed six hits and two earned runs. Melissa Stahnke drove in two Utes with a triple in the second to lead Utah.
In the second game, UMass took an early 1-0 lead in the third and then went up 2-0 in the fourth when pitcher Kaila Holtz hit a solo home run over the right field fence.
ASU's Wright then answered that by drilling Holtz's first pitch over the left field fence for her second home run of the day and her sixth of the early season. ASU then would tie the game up in the bottom of the seventh. Wright and Garcia each earned a walk. Carla Strege then singled up the middle, scoring Wright for the equalizer.
In the extra frame, UMass executed several plays that gained them three more runs for the final 5-2 victory. The big hits came from Brandi Cross and Katie Jo Kelley who each had RBI singles.
Holtz (1-2) went the distance for the Minutewomen, allowing five hits and two runs with four strikeouts, while Desiree Serrano (3-2) also went the distance, giving up nine hits and only one earned run with seven strikeouts.
Up next. The Devils will host their annual Louisville Slugger Classic Tournament, February 14-16 at Farrington Stadium. Teams competing include ASU, Iowa, Illinois State and Utah State.