March 4, 2006

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - The #12/13 Arizona State Sun Devils (20-1) wanted to get back on track after suffering their first loss of the season earlier Saturday in the UNLV Invitational. The Sun Devils lost to Virginia Tech in extra innings and fell behind the Rebels in the nightcap of their game. UNLV (10-9) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning, but ASU rallied to even the game in the sixth and took control of it in the seventh. The loss snaps the Rebels three-game winning streak, which had carried over from last week's final game at the Palm Springs Classic.

The Rebels pushed out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a home run to left field by Becky McDonald. The home run was the first for the first baseman on the year. Kendall Fearn scored on McDonald's hit after she reached on a single down the right line with two out.

ASU evened the score at 2-2 on a two-run double in the sixth down the left field line. The double was the third hit past the third base bag in the inning as Kaitlin Cochran and Jen McCard hit back-to-back cue shots that landed on just behind Kendall Fearn at third. The three hits were enough to bring Shannon Crisp (5-4) into the ball game in relief of Christie Robinson.

The Sun Devils took its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh with a single to the left side by Michelle Smith. With Bridgette Caron at the plate, Smith stole second and moved to third on a bunt single. Following an out, Cochran delivered a double to center, which plated Smith for the go-ahead run. McCard popped up to Fearn for out number-two, but on an attempt to pick Caron off at third, Fearn's throw was in the dirt and slid past Maggie Livreri and into foul territory. Caron came in for an insurance run.

Katie Burkhart (8-0) struck out 14, while tossing all 7.0 innings. She allowed three hits, all of which came between the second and fourth innings, and allowed two runs.

Shannon Crisp took the loss, while pitching 1.2 innings of relief.

Next up for UNLV is a split doubleheader with Virginia Tech and Southern Utah. The match up versus the Hokies is scheduled to start Sunday's action of the UNLV Invitational at 9am. The Thunderbirds and Rebels will play the final of the tournament with a scheduled first pitch of 3pm.