ASU softball takes monumental 8-1 win over Arizona

Mindy Cowles hit two home runs while two of her fellow Sun Devils followed suit in the long ball department as the No. 1 ASU Softball team cruised to an 8-1 win over in-state rival, the seventh-ranked Arizona Wildcats in Tucson Wednesday night. Katie Burkhart had a banner night as well striking out 12 while allowing only three hits on the night and no earned runs. The win is ASU's first against Arizona in Tucson since 1991 and first ever in Hillenbrand Stadium.

The Sun Devils came out showing now fear of the home crowd as Kaitlin Cochran drew a lead-off walk followed up by a single from Jackie Vasquez before Pac-10 RBI leader Krista Donnenwirth demolished an 0-1 pitch from Tarnye Mowatt deep to left field to plate three runs and take off with the 3-0 lead. A Sun Devil error cost them in the bottom of the inning, allowing one unearned run to score with ASU up 3-1 at the end of one. 

The ASU offense jumped on the board again the second inning though as a costly error put Jessica Mapes on first where she was later plated by another RBI for Krista Donnenwirth with a ground out. Another RBI single from Kristen Miller gave ASU the 5-1 lead after two where Katie Burkhart looked in control in the circle, striking out six with only 56 pitches through three.

ASU decided to put it away with yet another run in the fifth as Mindy Cowles crushed a solo home run way past the left field wall on an 0-1 pitch for her ninth on the season while giving ASU a comfortable 6-1 lead. Caylyn Carlson followed her lead pulling the count full before nailing one deep to left as well as ASU carried off with a 7-1 cushion into the seventh, but Cowles wasn't to be outdone as she hit yet another solo shot in the seventh to cement the score at 8-1. 

The Sun Devils will return home to host their Pac-10 opening series this weekend as they host No. 2 UCLA on Friday, April 11 at 7 p.m. and Washington on Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13. Saturday's game will kick-off at 7 p.m. and will be aired live on Fox Sports Net as Sunday's first pitch throws at noon.