No. 1 softball to host Diamond Devil Invitational in Final Home Tournament

March 06, 2008

The Sun Devil Softball squad will continue their 2008 home season this weekend as they set to host the Diamond Devil Invitational featuring Utah, UC Davis, Pacific, San Diego and San Diego State this Friday-Sunday in Tempe at Farrington Stadium.<separator></separator>Series History & Scouting report<separator></separator>University of San Diego:<separator></separator>Since their first meeting in 1995 against the San Diego Toreros, the Sun Devils hold a 2-0 lead in the series history with their last meetings both coming back-to-back in 1995 on March 18 in the in Tempe, Ariz 11-0 in five innings with Carrie Breedlove in the circle and again 7-0 with Roxanne Tsosie hurling to give ASU their 11th and 12th win of the season.<separator></separator>This weekend, San Diego travels to Tempe with a current 6-13 record overall. Last weekend they hosted the San Diego Classic, where they went a flawless 2-3, topping St. Peter's College 3-2 and Harvard 7-1 before falling to UCLA, Eastern Michigan and Cal State Bakersfield. The Toreros are led at the plate by first-baseman, Lindsey Fleet who is currently hitting .327 on the season with 18 hits for five doubles and two home runs for 13 RBIs. In the circle, Jennifer Ellenback has been holding down the defense, going 2-8 to start the season with a 4.27 ERA and 47 strikeouts.<separator></separator>No. 17/21 San Diego State Aztecs:<separator></separator>Versus the SDSU Aztecs, ASU have compiled a 28-7 record since their first meeting in 1980. This will be Coach Myer's first face-off with the Aztecs as the last time they met was in the 2005 season where they split 1-1 with the Aztecs at the Lousiville Slugger Triangular in Tempe, Ariz. They both took a 1-0 win and loss from one another with Burkhart throwing a no-hitter in the first game on March 4, then falling in a three-hitter with two Sun Devil errors on March 5.<separator></separator> Thus far this season, the Aztecs are 16-5 headed into the weekend's tournament after going 4-1 last weekend in San Diego, Calif., where they only fell 2-1 to #4 UCLA. The Cougars topped Eastern Michigan twice, Harvard and fellow Pac-10 foe Oregon. Leading the Aztecs offensively is Tamani Wells, who's hitting .353 overall with 24 hits, two for doubles and nine RBIs. In the circle for the Aztecs, Christina Ross has been the marquee name to go to in the big games as she holds a 10-4 record and only a .64 ERA with a phenomenal 78 strikeouts.<separator></separator>Pacific Tigers:<separator></separator>Against the Pacific Tigers, ASU are 12-6 all-time since 1981, with their last meeting coming in 1992 where they lost 6-3 in Tucson.<separator></separator>Pacific comes into the weekend 9-11 overall after competeing in the Worth Invitational last weekend in Fullerton, Calif. They went 4-2, losing to Notre Dame and No. 5 Florida. Kellee Wilson leads the bats for the Tigers, as she's hitting .345 with 20 hits, four for doubles and five for home runs with 21 RBIs on the season. In the circle Chelsea Engel, holds the ace position, with a 7-4 record and 1.87 ERA currently.<separator></separator>UC Davis Aggies:<separator></separator>Against UC Davis, the Sun Devils are 2-0 with their last win coming in 2006 at the NIST in San Jose, Calif., with <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/serrano_desiree00.html… Serrano</a> leading the Sun Devils in the circle to an 8-1 win.<separator></separator>UC Davis comes in this weekend with a 12-11 record overall, where they went 1-4 at the Worth Invitational in San Diego, Calif. before hosting Santa Clara in a pair of two wins this week. Junior infielder, Julie Stauder leads the attack for the Aggies with a .367 average with four doubles and a triple. On the mound for the Aggies is ace, junior right-hander Jessica Hancock with a 7-6 record and a 2.41 ERA.<separator></separator>Utah Utes:<separator></separator>The Sun Devils are 22-9 since their first meeting with the Utes in 1975. In their last meeting on March 19, 2006, the Sun Devils just barely edged Utah with a 1-0 win as Burkhart allowed only two-hits in the game with ASU collecting their 32nd win on the season.<separator></separator>Utah comes in with a 10-5 overall record which shows they've played some powerhouse teams, as their schedules includes a loss to Oregon State and a win and loss to Texas. Leading the Utes bats is Diana Phillips, who's hitting .389 on the year with four doubles and a triple and four runs scored. In the circle you'll find that their ace Ashley Smuda has a 7-3 record with a 2.55 ERA and 49 strikeouts coming into the weekend.