April 17, 2005
SEATTLE, Wash. - The 24th-ranked Washington softball team (21-14, 3-5 Pac-10) used three home runs and a three-run double to carry them to a 12-4, six inning win over 21st-ranked Arizona State (26-16, 1-9 Pac-10) on Sunday. Despite the Sun Devils collecting as many hits (8) as the Huskies, ASU surrendered a season-high 12 runs.
The Sun Devils wasted no time getting on the board as they posted a single run off two hits in the top of the first inning. Bridgette Caron led off the game with a double to center field off UW starter Caitlin Noble (9-6). She was then moved to third on a Jen McCard sacrifice bunt. Mindy Cowles walked and stole second for two on, allowing Ashley Werschky to hit a single to right field, scoring Caron.
In the bottom of the first, the Huskies got the run back, plus three more to take a 4-1 lead. ASU starting pitcher Katie Burkhart (10-9) got the first out of the inning, but Dominique Lastrapes singled to left, Kristen Rivera walked and Sarah Hyatt was hit by a pitch to quickly load the bases. Burkhart retired the next batter for the second out, but Kathy Fiske then stroked a grand slam over the center field fence.
In the bottom of the second, Ashley Werschky relived Burkhart, and UW used another two-out home run to forge ahead 7-1. After Werschky got the first two outs of the inning, Lastrapes started the rally once again. She then advanced to third on a wild pitch, while Rivera was intentionally walked. That set up Hyatt's three-run shot over the left field fence.
The Devils got one run back in the fourth inning off two hits. Ashley Boek relived Noble to open the frame and proceeded to walk Kim Zadrozny. After Boek got the first out, Sharee Zaleski singled to right field and Caron followed with her second double of the game, this time into the right center field gap to plate Zadrozny.
But, UW answered again in the bottom of the fourth with their third home run of the day, a two-run shot by Lastrapes to extend the lead to 9-2.
In the top of the fifth, ASU answered with its own long ball. After Heidi Knabe reached on a single to right field, Zadrozny launched her first career home run over the left center field fence to cut the lead to 9-4.
However, the Huskies ended the game in the sixth inning when Rivera hit a bases loaded double that cleared the bases for the final 12-4 score.
Caron led ASU with a 3 for 4 game with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Knabe went 2 for 3 with a run scored, while Zadrozny collected two RBIs and scored twice.
Burkhart pitched one inning allowing four runs off two hits with one strikeout. Werschky pitched four innings and gave up eight runs on six hits.
Up next, the Sun Devils will travel to Tucson to face second-ranked Arizona on Friday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m.