Feb. 27, 2009
TEMPE, Ariz. – A one-hit complete game gem by Megan Elliott and an offensive showcase by the eighth-ranked Sun Devil Softball team highlighted the opening day of the Wilson/DiMarini Invitational as ASU topped Utah State 9-0 and South Alabama 20-5, both in five innings Friday night in Tempe. The wins put ASU at 15-4 overall on the season with three games left to play this weekend.
Opening the day against the Utah State Aggies, the Sun Devil D worked out of an early jam in the first unscathed only to put on three runs in the bottom of the first with RBI hits from Ashley Muenz and Krista Donnenwirth. Muenz wasn’t done lighting up the boards though as she stepped into the box in the third inning to take a full pitch count deep to right center to plate two. Renee Welty, not to be outdone, gave a 2-2 pitch some frequent flyer miles as she lifted a three-run shot deep to left center to cement the Sun Devil lead.
Megan Elliott took the W in the game to pull an even 3-3 on the season with an superb one-hit complete game outing with two strikeouts while throwing only 60 pitches in the outing.
Against the South Alabama Jaguars the Sun Devils struck first right out of the gates as they put one on the board as Kaitlin Cochran bombed a 1-1 pitch deep to left center for a solo shot to take the lead. The Maroon and Gold offense lit back up in the third inning putting six on the board highlighted by Katelyn Boyd’s first career grand slam.
The Sun Devil bats couldn’t be silenced in the fifth though as ASU posted an unbelievable 13 runs with eight hits in the inning with the Sun Devil battalion coming out in full effect with six Sun Devils making pinch hit cameos in the inning to round out the full assault.
Hillary Bach collected her ninth win in the outing, pushing her record to a flawless 9-0 in the season as she struck out two while allowing seven hits.
Next up the Wilson/DiMarini rolls into Day Two tomorrow with the Sun Devils facing Northern Colorado at 3:30 p.m. and New Mexico State at 5:30 p.m. in Tempe at Farrington Stadium. Tournament action begins at 9 a.m.