Feb. 15, 2009
Box Score
Tempe, AZ --- Maybe the lead got to them. Idaho State took a 1-0 lead on defending national champion Arizona State, currently ranked #3 in the country, but a two-run home run in the bottom of the first by Kaitlin Cochran gave ASU the lead, and then an eight-run second put the game out of reach as the Sun Devils ended ISU's stay in the Littlewood Classic with a 10-1 loss in a game called after 4 ½ innings due to the 8-run rule. The Bengals finished the Littlewood Classic tying for third in the tournament at 2-3.
ISU opened the game with a run in the first when Megan Miller reached on error and Caitlin McGrath followed with a single up the middle. After both moved up on a ground out, Jenn Martensen drove in Miller with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.
ISU couldn't hold that lead against the #3 team in the nation, as Kaitlin Cochran drilled a two-run home run off freshman starter Cristin Martin to make it 2-1. Kandis Clesson came in to start the second, and inning that was harrowing at best. When it was over, Clesson had allowed just three hits, but eight runs crossed in the inning. An error on a sacrifice attempt loaded the bases, and with the bases loaded Clesson walked a batter, hit a batter, and then walked another making it 7-1. Mandy Urfer then uncorked a three-run home run to make it 10-1.
Clesson settled down after that, but ISU couldn't muster any other offense of note against Arizona State starter Megan Elliot, who allowed three hits and walked one. She also struck out two and hit a batter, and her team's normally stellar defense was non-existent, as ASU committed a season-high three errors.
McGrath picked up two of ISU's three hits, with Merissa Jannsen getting the other. Cristin Martin allowed just the two-run home run in the first, but she was tagged for the loss. Clesson allowed just three hits in four innings, but eight runs, three earned. She did walk seven and hit a batter.
Idaho State dropped to 2-8 overall, and they are off until March 6, when they take on Northwest Nazarene, the College of Idaho, and Boise State in the Boise State Invitational.
NOTES: Arizona State was the first ranked opponent of the season for the Bengals ... Arizona State's five hits tied for their fewest in a game this season ... ASU improved to 11-1 ... The eight runs allowed in relief were the first ones by Clesson all season, as she had thrown 8 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
