April 18, 2009
TEMPE, Ariz. – While Kaitlin Cochran put another dent in the ASU record books, topping the career hits record by collecting three today to put her record at 299, besting the previously held record of 296 by Lisa Dacquisto, her fellow Devils did not fare as well, falling in a 7-6 extra innings heartbreaker Saturday night in Tempe. Three Sun Devil home runs were not enough to top No. 2 Stanford as ASU falls to 7-6 in Pac-10 conference play and 35-9 overall. The Cardinal improves to 7-4 in the conference with an overall record of 37-5.
The Cardinals made a ruckus early, landing runs on the scoreboard first as clean-up hitter Maddy Coon launched a two run homer in the first followed by another two run long ball by Jenna Becerra in the second to give Stanford a commanding lead over the Sun Devils. Answering the Cardinals and fighting back in the second for ASU was Krista Donnenwirth, who parked a solo shot over the center field fence to boost the Sun Devil moral.
Outdoing the Sun Devil offense again was Stanford’s Ashley Hansen with a two run dinger hit to dead center field to give the Cardinals a five run lead going into the fourth inning. Bringing out the bats again in the bottom of the fifth inning was Katelyn Boyd with an RBI double hit to center to plate Jessica Mapes to give the Sun Devils their second run of the night.
With their rally caps on, ASU rocked back to back homeruns from Lesley Rogers and Kaitlin Cochran to bring them back within two runs of the Cardinals in the bottom of the seventh. Following a walk and stolen base to Katelyn Boyd, Kaylyn Castillo found the right center hole with a double to score Boyd from second to close the gap even more. Forcing extra innings and tying the game at six was Katie Crabb with an RBI single to left field to plate pinch runner Kaylyn Carlson.
But the extra innings affair spelled defeat for the Sun Devils when Stanford’s Jenna Bercera hit a gap shot to score Maya Burns to seal the deal as ASU couldn't rally back in the bottom of the eighth with Stanford ace Missy Penna sealing the deal after 172 pitches thrown.
The Sun Devils will finish the series as they host the Cardinal tomorrow at noon in Tempe at Farrington Stadium.