No. 1 softball to host Santa Clara

The top-ranked Sun Devil Softball (27-1) squad will continue their 2008 home season this weekend as they set to host the Santa Clara Broncos in a three-game series in Tempe this Friday and Saturday at Farrington Stadium. Friday's first pitch is set for 7 p.m. while game one of Saturday's double-header starts at noon, with game two following 20 minutes after the culmination of game one.

Since their first meeting in 1987 against the Santa Clara Broncos, the Sun Devils hold a 16-1 lead in the series history with their last meeting coming in 2006 on March 9 in Santa Clara, Calif. which ended in a 9-0 final score in five innings with Katie Burkhart in the circle and pitching ASU to their 21st win of the season and her ninth of the year with a two-hit complete game shutout. They were slated for a doubleheader that day, but had game two rained out.

This weekend, Santa Clara travels to Tempe with a current 4-24 record overall. Last weekend they went 1-4 at the Fresno State Bulldog Classic in Fresno, Calif. They started off strong with a 5-1 win over Rhode Island before falling to three straight ranked opponents: Houston 4-0, DePaul 6-0 and Fresno State 8-0 (5 innings) before finishing the weekend with an 8-3 loss to Cal Poly.

The Broncos come in with a .185 team batting average with 15 doubles, a triple and seven home runs to their tally. Leading the offense is junior infielder, Noelanie Ho'opi'I who rides a .296 average into this weekend with three doubles and two home runs for seven RBIs.

In the circle for the Broncos is senior ace Jerrica Castagno who has a current 2-11 record with a 4.81 ERA. On the year she's only allowed 36 earned runs while striking out 45 in 67.1 innings of work.

Schedule:

ASU vs. Santa Clara - Friday, March 14th 7:00 p.m.

Pink Out - Wear Pink and Receive $2 Admission

Sparky's Inflatable Fun Zone - 6:00 - 7:15 p.m.

ASU vs. Santa Clara - Saturday, March 15th 12:00 and 2:30 p.m.

Girl Scout Day

Sparky's Inflatable Fun Zone - 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.