May 22, 2009
TEMPE, Ariz. – With her fourth complete game shutouts in five postseason starts, freshman hurler Hillary Bach led the way Friday afternoon in Tempe as the tenth-seeded ASU Softball team opened the Tempe Super Regional with a 3-0 win over the North Dakota State Bisons. The win puts ASU one game from advancing to their fourth consecutive WCWS and their record at 45-17 overall. The Bison fall to 38-19 on the season and need to win Game Two tomorrow to stave off elimination.
Talor Haro led charge for the Sun Devils in the second inning as she hit a single through the right side before a Katie Crabb sac bunt advanced her to second. Lesley Rogers came through in the clutch with a double to left center for her 11th two-bagger on the season to plate Haro and grab the 1-0 lead.
A State struck again in the fifth inning with Ashley Muenz kicking off the good times with a single to right field where Jessica Mapes advanced her with a single up the middle before Kaitlin Cochran singled to left field to load the bases for three-spot hitter, Kaylyn Castillo. Castillo didn’t disappoint as she hit a high fly ball to right to score Caylyn Carlson before Talor Haro came through again with another sacrifice fly to score Jessica Mapes and push ASU up 3-0.
Hillary Bach took the reigns with the lead and retired the next 12 batters she faced to complete the three-hit complete game shutout of the Bisons and advance her record 29-9 with 13 complete game shutouts to her name on the year.
Game Two of the Tempe Super Regional will kick off tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. in Tempe at Farrington Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and a Game Three will be played at 4 p.m. should NDSU win Game Two.