May 30, 2008
Box Score | Burkhart ESPN postgame interview
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - A new era of Sun Devil Softball ushered itself in as the sixth-seeded ASU Softball team knocked off the number two seed UCLA Friday night 4-0 as they headed to their first Championship Sunday since 1982. Kaitlin Cochran was intentionally walked three times and scored twice en route to setting a new NCAA intentional walks single-season record with her now 29.
The Sun Devils came out blazing in the first as Katie Burkhart went three up, three down before her offense came out to threaten the Bruins in the first as two intentional walks and a single loaded the bases with no outs. Angelica Selden was determined to keep it even though and swept through the next three batters to keep ASU's attack at bay and keep it zeros after one full.
The Sun Devil offense couldn't be contained though as they came storming back in the third inning to score two after an intentional walk to Kaitlin Cochran followed with a four-pitch walk to Jackie Vasquez paid dividends for ASU as the freshman Lesley Rogers came through again with a single to center followed with a huge error by the center fielder to plate both Cochran and Vasquez and take the 2-0 lead.
ASU wasn't done yet though as they decided to make a statement as they rallied up in the fifth inning as well as they made UCLA pay for another intentional walk to Kaitlin Cochran to lead-off, her 29th intentional walk on the season, breaking the NCAA single-season record held by ironically a Bruin, Stacey Nuveman. After the walk, Jackie Vasquez reached on a fielder's choice where RBI queen, Krista Donnenwirth cracked home Cochran and an error brought home Vasquez to make the lead 4-0.
Katie Burkhart wasn't willing to relinquish the lead as well going full throttle and allowing only one more hit after the third inning for the complete-game shutout. ASU is now 1-2 against the Bruins in the WCWS, with each loss to the Bruins being a 1-0 loss. ASU returned the shutout favor with their 26th shutout of the year, an ASU single-season team record.
The Sun Devils will now take Elimination Saturday off as they advance to their first Championship Sunday since 1982. They await to see who they'll play after Saturday `s elimination round.