Feb. 18, 2006
Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. -
Illinois State fell to Arizona State, 8-0, in five innings in their fourth game in the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz. on Saturday.
No. 22 ASU, coming off a dramatic 10-7 nine inning win over No. 19 Iowa, took advantage of three walks in the top of the first to load the bases with one out. Kristen Miller drove a single into right field to give the Sun Devils a 2-0 lead and put runners on the corners. After a pop out on the infield, Rhiannon Baca reached on an error as the runner on third scored to make it 3-0.
The Sun Devils (11-0) took advantage of pitching lapses in the third by adding four runs. Miller hit a leadoff solo home run to give Arizona State a four-run lead. Starting pitcher Ashley Werschky reached on a base on balls and Baca added a single to right field to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Then Amber Smith was brought on in relief of ISU starter Stacy Birk. Jen McCard smacked a RBI double to the gap in left center, Baca scored on a groundout to the right side and McCard crossed the plate on a wild pitch as the Sun Devils took a 7-0 lead. Werschky sent one over the pole down the right field line to leadoff the fourth as the lead increased to eight, the final margin.
Jen Wright singled up the middle in the bottom of the fifth for the Redbirds' only run of the game but it wasn't enough as ISU fell to 1-5 on the season.
Sunday, Illinois State wraps up the tournament with a 1 p.m. contest against the host Sun Devils.
