Sun Devils take lumps, gain experience in exhibition games against Team Canada

 by Steven Falkenhagen
 published on Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The ASU softball team got swept by the Canadian National Team at Farrington Stadium on Tuesday.

But ASU coach Clint Myers insists it was a moral victory for the Sun Devils.

ASU dropped both of its games, the first, 3-2, and the second game 10-0.

Myers pulled out all the stops in the first game, assembling his best lineup and sending senior pitcher Katie Burkhart to the circle.

"The [Canada] team is ranked fourth in the world," Myers said. "It's all about maturity. Let's face it. The freshmen that hit off of both [of Canada's] pitchers have never seen anything like this before in their lives."

Despite ASU's inexperience of having faced top competition, Myers commended the play of his team.

"Do I look upset or sad?" he said. "No, not at all. Because we accomplished what we wanted to. I mean the first ball game, we make one play and we've got a chance to win that ball game."

The play Myers referred to was in the top of the third inning. With the score knotted at zero, a runner at first and one out, Canada third baseman Erin McLean hit a chopper back to the mound. Burkhart grabbed the ball and threw it to the plate, but the throw was low and outside, and senior catcher Kristen Miller was unable to grab it. Canada was able to score its first run and send McLean to second base.

Designated player Jennifer Yee's double with two outs scored McLean, tagging another unearned run to the scoreboard to give Canada a 2-0 lead through 2 1/2 innings.

ASU would tie the game up at two in the fourth inning off a two-run home run by Miller. After fouling a 3-2 pitch off, Miller drove the next pitch she saw over the right-field fence.

"I just went up there, she gave me a good pitch, and I put a good swing on it," Miller said.

The game would remain tied at two until the sixth inning when Yee drove an 0-1 Burkhart pitch over the right-field wall. That run would prove to be the difference as Lauren Bay-Regula got the win for Canada.

Burkhart was candid in her assessment of her performance in game one.

"It wasn't my best outing, but it gives me a perspective of what I need to work on," Burkhart said. "I was just hoping to come out and prove something to myself, and throw really well, and carry on what's been going on in the season."

The second game did not go as smoothly for ASU. The nerves Myers mentioned showed up in the game as he fielded a lineup of three freshmen and two sophomores, alongside his regulars. No seniors played in the game.

Although Canada did score 10 runs, only two of them came as earned. ASU had three errors in the game. Freshman second baseman Michelle Nulliner had two errors and sophomore pitcher Megan Elliott added the other.

Canada ace Danielle Lawrie pitched the second game and shut out ASU over six innings, only giving up six hits while striking out eight batters. She is red-shirting a year at University of Washington to pitch for Team Canada in the Olympics this summer.

The Sun Devils resume their non-conference schedule at home this weekend hosting the three-day DeMarini Invitational. ASU begins play at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at Farrington Stadium against Drake.

Reach the reporter at: steven.falkenhagen@asu.edu.