Feb. 19, 2012
Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. -
The Illinois State softball team took an early lead against No. 5/6 Arizona State, but the Sun Devils used an 11-run second inning to power past the Redbirds, 14-3, in five innings. Juniors Elizabeth Kay and Lauren Kellar each homered, accounting for two of ISU's four hits.
A solo home run with two outs in the first by Annie Lockwood gave ASU an early 1-0 lead, but the Redbirds responded by scoring a pair of runs in the top the second. Kay led off the inning by clearing the fence in center field and sophomore Laura Canopy followed with a single to left. Senior Caiti Kopp walked to put runners at first and second with no outs. Redshirt sophomore Sara Bradley pushed a bunt through the right side of the infield to score Canopy from second and ISU took a 2-1 lead. Arizona State starter Dallas Escobedo retired the next three Illinois State hitters in order to strand runners at the corners.
The Sun Devils countered by scoring 11 runs in their half of the second on seven hits and took advantage of an errant throw from ISU starter Jordan Birch early in the inning. Alix Johnson coaxed a walk to lead off the inning and Sam Parlich reached on Birch's error to put runners at the corners. Amber Freeman then tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI single back through the middle. Christian Zambrana gave ASU a 3-2 lead on a sacrifice fly to left that scored Parlich, before the Arizona bats came alive as the next four Sun Devils reached, chasing Birch after just 1.2 innings.
Freshman Sophia Perez took over for Birch in the circle, but failed to record an out as she gave up four runs on three hits and a walk, including Haley Steele's two-run homer, before ISU used its third pitcher of the inning in senior Megan Warner. Warner struck out the first batter she faced to put an end to the inning, ending a string of nine-straight Sun Devils hitters to reach base.
ASU added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on two-run double by Bethany Kemp and Kellar hit her second long ball of the year for the Redbirds in the top of the fifth to make the final tally, 14-3.
Birch took the loss to fall to 4-2 on the year, allowing five runs, two earned, on eight hits. Warner tossed the final 2.1 innings, recording five strikeouts and giving up just two hits in relief.
Illinois State will be back in action next Friday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla., when it opens the three-day event against Boston at 12 p.m. CST.
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