UCLA
Arizona St
Arizona State Softball Wins Pitchers Duel Over UCLA, 1-0
April 16, 2000 | Softball
April 16, 2000
LOS ANGELES - UCLA's Courtney Dale returned to the pitching circle for the first time since February 24 on Sunday afternoon, and the game turned into a pitchers duel, with Arizona State coming out with a 1-0 win over No. 3 UCLA. With the win, ASU goes to 37-10, 5-5 Pac-10, while UCLA falls to 32-7, 7-2 Pac-10. Arizona State's Kristen Voak earned the victory in the circle, and set a new Sun Devil single season record with her 25th victory of the year.
UCLA's Dale pitched a pre-arranged two innings in her first start since being diagnosed with a torn labrum in her pitching (right) shoulder on Feb. 25, allowing two hits and holding Arizona State scoreless before Amanda Freed took over in the circle in the top of the third inning.
Meanwhile, Arizona State's Kirsten Voak turned in an impressive performance, pitching five perfect innings before Bruin freshman Tairia Mims led off the bottom of the sixth with a single. Freed also pitched well for UCLA, retiring six straight batters before Sun Devil first baseman Erin Wardein smacked the first pitch of the fifth over the left field fence, her third home run of the season.
The Bruins were unable to challenge until the seventh inning, when Voak allowed a leadoff walk to Bruin shortstop Natasha Watley. Second baseman Lyndsey Klein was unable to put down a bunt, and eventually popped out to Sun Devil shortstop Kara Brun. From there, Julie Marshall ripped a single that advanced Watley to third, and advanced Marshall to second on the throw.
Erin Rahn then entered the game to pinch run for Marshall, before Voak intentionally walked Julie Adams to load the bases and bring Dale, who was then the designated player, to the plate with one out in the inning. Unfortunately, UCLA was unable to capitalize, as Dale struck out and Mims fouled out to ASU third baseman Stacey Farnworth.
The Bruins remain in second place in the Pac-10 thanks to a weekend sweep of Arizona by Washington. UCLA returns to action on Friday, April 21, at Husky Softball Stadium in Seattle, Wash. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
