March 20, 2009
TEMPE, Ariz. – Three home runs including a grand slam by Kaitlin Cochran as well as a stellar outing by Megan Elliott gave the sixth-ranked ASU softball team an 11-7 win over the Long Beach State 49ers Friday night in Tempe. The Sun Devils are now 26-5 overall as LBSU falls to 9-11.
The Sun Devils hit the scoreboard first right out of the gates as a lead-off walk to Jessica Mapes was brought home by an RBI single from Krista Donnenwirth. ASU added four runs in the second inning as Kaylyn Castillo hit a solo shot to left field where she was followed up with RBI hits from Kaitlin Cochran and Katelyn Boyd to take the 5-0 lead.
The 49ers wouldn’t pipe down though as they throttled back in the third inning, posting seven runs on five hits to take the lead and see Megan Elliott emerge from the bullpen to calm the rally as LBSU lead 7-5. The bottom of the inning saw the ASU offense come out to shine though, as they put up five runs on five hits, as Ashley Muenz hit a solo shot to left center before the Sun Devils loaded the bases only to have Kaitlin Cochran step up to plate and belt a 2-1 pitch to left center to clear them all and take the 10-5 lead.
Another run from a sacrifice fly by Lesley Rogers in the fifth capped the ASU scoring rally as Megan Elliott handled the rest, pitching 4.2 innings, giving up only one hit and striking out two for the win.
The Sun Devils will take to their home field tomorrow for one last outing before Pac-10 play starts as they take on the Long Beach State 49ers in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Come dressed in pink for ASU’s annual ‘Pink-Out’ game for Breast Cancer Awareness tomorrow in Tempe at Farrington Stadium.