ASU softball returns to World Series

ASU softball, the defending national champion, opened its fourth-straight College World Series with a win over Missouri.

The tenth-seeded Sun Devils took control early with six runs in the first two innings and hung on for 7-3 win over the Tigers May 28. Starting pitcher Hillary Bach went the distance for the Sun Devils, giving up three runs on only four hits.

The win puts ASU at 47-17. The Sun Devils will now play Pac-10 rival Washington at 4 p.m. Friday. The game will be televised on ESPN2. The winner will move on to play Sunday, with the loser having to play on Saturday and facing possible elimination.

Find the complete College World Series Bracket at http://www.ncaa.com/brackets/2009/ncaa_bracket_DI_softball.html.

ASU is the defending champion, after winning the 2008 World Series with a win over Texas A&M. It was ASU's first national softball crown.