March 14, 2003

FULLERTON, Calif. - Arizona State broke up a 1-1 tie in the top of the sixth inning to defeat the UNLV softball team 2-1 in the final round of pool play at the Kia Classic on Friday.

The Rebels (13-16) lost all three of their pool play games and will face the winner of today's Pool D matchup between Long Beach State and second-ranked Arizona at 5 p.m. tonight.

Jackie Kerrigan, making her second start of the tourney, marched through the Sun Devil order in the first three innings. She actually retired the first 10 batters of the game before Kara Brun singled to left to break up the perfect game.

Brun's single was the first of three hits for the Sun Devils (23-9) in the inning. A fielding error by Sam Sardinha allowed Brun to arrive safely at second, and Brun scored on the subsequent single by Adriana Garcia.

In quick fashion, the Rebels matched the given run in the bottom of the fourth, also taking advantage of a fielding error. Lisa Moses was safe after ASU second baseman Jen McCord couldn't handle a line drive. Moses moved to second on Kacey Ellis' sacrifice bunt and scored on a Sardinha single to right.

The game was knotted once again, but ASU cracked it open in the sixth. Garcia drew a leadoff walk, and pinch runner Billie Akauola scooted into second on a passed ball. The Devils then used a pair of groundouts to power Akauola around the bases for the game-winning score.

Once ASU took the lead, it turned to reliever Desi Serrano, who sat down six straight Rebels to earn her fourth save of the year. She struck out three in two perfect innings of work.

Kerrigan, who lost her second decision of the tourney and fell to 10-6, fanned five batters and permitted no earned runs.