Feb. 11, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. - The 2007 Arizona State Kajikawa Classic wrapped Sunday afternoon, which saw the host team, the fifth-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils defeat Ohio State 3-1 and pull off a come-from-behind win over Long Beach State 6-5. The Sun Devils pushed their record to a flawless 8-0 and won the Kajikawa Classic by rule of a run-differential.
In the first game versus the Ohio State Buckeyes, Katie Burkhart shone on the mound again for the Devils as she struck out nine and allowed only one run to the Buckeyes. The Sun Devil offense took hold in the first as they loaded the bases with three singles to score Jackie Vasquez on a sacrifice fly to center field from Mindy Cowles to put ASU up 1-0.
The Buckeyes matched the score though in the second as catcher Sam Marder cracked a solo shot over right field to tie it at one apiece. Burkhart kept OSU's bats quiet after that before Kaitlin Cochran dug in with Jackie Vasquez on first to crush a two-run shot over right field to boost the Sun Devils to 3-1 over the Buckeyes. ASU is now 9-3 all-time against Ohio State.
In the last game of the Kajikawa Classic, the Sun Devils faced off with the Long Beach State, which saw the 49ers come out strong against the Devils as they lead-off with a single in the first followed with a two-run homerun from Jessica Beaver. The 49ers added on three more in the third and fourth to pull ahead 5-0.
ASU's offense finally started moving in the fourth as back-to-back walks to Mindy Cowles and Ashley Muenz were brought home by a three-run homer over right from Kristen Miller, cutting the lead to 5-3. ASU wasn't done yet though as Rhiannon Baca singled to left field as pinch hitter, Caylyn Carlson dug in to crush a ball over center field to tie it at 5. The Sun Devils wrapped it up in the seventh with a double from Kaitlin Cochran being brought home with a single from Bianca Cruz.
The No.5 Sun Devils are now 8-0 after the first week of play and will prepare to host again next weekend as ASU holds the Littlewood Classic Feb. 16-18. ASU will face off against Idaho State, Illinois State, North Carolina, UC Riverside and Iowa at ASU's Farrington Stadium in Tempe.