Feb. 13, 2009
Stats
TEMPE, Ariz. -
Arizona State's two home runs in the third inning propelled the No. 3 Sun Devils to a 3-0 win over the Illinois State softball team as the Redbirds dropped its second game of the Littlewood Classic at Farrington Stadium. Relief pitcher Amber Smith silenced ASU batters by not allowing a hit, but it wasn't enough to keep the Redbird from falling to 2-5 on the season.
Arizona State pitcher Hillary Bach limited the Redbirds to three hits, while earning her fifth-straight win and remains undefeated on the season, while the Sun Devils improve to 7-1.
"I think that we competed very well," said head coach Melinda Fischer. "I especially think that Jordan Birch started out strong in the circle for us.
"Defensively we didn't have an error and that has been somewhat of a problem for us up until tonight's game. We hit the ball and I think that we really had the opportunity to score at one point when we had runners at second and third and nobody out, however we couldn't get anything out of it. Overall it was a good performance, much better than the first game."
Freshman pitcher Jordan Birch allowed two home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning allowing three ASU players to cross the plate and giving Arizona State the lead. Birch was lifted for Smith who ended the inning.
Birtch, who picked up her third loss (0-3), pitched 3.1 innings, fanned five Arizona State batters and did not allow any walks while in the circle.
The Redbirds will be back in action tomorrow, with a matchup against Tennessee-Chattooga. First pitch from Farrington Stadium is slated for 10 a.m. CST
