May 16, 2003
AUSTIN, Texas - Freshman pitcher Desiree Serrano (18-15) had a no hitter through five innings before ending the game allowing only four hits as she lifted third-seeded Arizona State (31-24) to a 6-0 shutout victory over seventh-seeded Tennessee Tech (41-16) Friday morning in an elimination game at the NCAA Region 3 Tournament in Austin, Texas. The Sun Devils will now turn around and face another elimination game tonight at 8:30 p.m. (Central) against either top-seeded Texas or fourth-seeded Louisiana State.
The Devils' bats finally came alive as they knocked out 14 hits, including three doubles off three Tech pitchers en route to their 14th double digit hitting game of the year. ASU opened the game in the top of the first with a single run. With one out, Jennifer Forner drew a walk from Tech starter Lori Bayless (16-8) and moved to third on a long single to right centerfield by Kara Brun. Phelan Wright followed with a double to right center to drive in Forner.
ASU then put up four more runs in the third inning to blow it open. Tech changed pitchers to Tia Brenning, who gave up and infield single to Kristin Farber to open the frame. Farber was then called out for the leaving the base early. With two outs, Brun again singled to right field and Wright hit an infield single to advance Brun to second. Adriana Garcia then slugged her sixth double of the year to centerfield to drive in both Brun and Wright for the 3-0 advantage. After Ashley Werschky reached on an error and Keri Pulcifer walked to load the bases, Carla Strege pinch hit for Jen McCard and singled up the middle to drive in two more for the 5-0 lead.
The Devils would tag one more on in the sixth inning. Farber reached on another infield single and then stole her team-leading 10th base of the year. Brun then singled for the fourth time, moving Farber to third. Now with two outs, Tech's third pitcher Lori Lamb threw a wild pitch to score Farber for the final run of the game.
Serrano pitched her seventh complete shutout of the year, firing 102 pitches, 70 for strikes, as she limited Tech to four hits with nine strikeouts and one walk. Brun (4x4), Wright (2x4) and Farber (2x5) all had multi-hit games with each scoring one run.