Softball team advances to World Series finals
<p>The 2008 Sun Devil Softball Team set history again on Sunday as they rallied for a 3-1 win over the third-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide to advance to their first NCAA WCWS Championship Series in program history which will kick-off June 2 at 5 p.m. Arizona time. The win puts ASU at 64-5 overall and 8-0 in the postseason. Alabama ends their 2008 campaign at 58-8.</p><separator></separator><p>The story line looked to be a similar one against the Crimson Tide which saw the Tide strike first yet again, this time in the third inning after Kellie Eubanks was hit by a pitch were she was advanced by a bunt and a ground out before an RBI single to left from Jordan Praytor knocked one home for `Bama.</p><separator></separator><p>This time however the Sun Devils didn't wait until the seventh to come back they came rocketing back in the bottom of the inning as <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/baca_rhiannon00.html">… Baca</a> reached on a fielder's choice before <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/cochran_kaitlin00.html… Cochran</a> was hit by a wild pitch to put runners on first and second which brought up <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/vasquez_jackie00.html"… Vasquez</a> who only needed one pitch to get it done as she launched her fourth home run of the season to plate three and take the lead back. Her long ball was the second in the postseason of her career, her last coming against LSU in the 2006 Tempe Super Regional for a grand slam.</p><separator></separator><p><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/burkhart_katie00.html"… Burkhart</a> was lights-out as usual in the game as she pitched a two-hit gem while striking out nine, which places her now sixth-place in NCAA history with 1,646 career strikeouts. The win is her 39th overall of the season and her 116th of her career.</p><separator></separator><p>Head Coach <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/myers_clint01.html">Cl… Myers</a> expressed his view on today's game and the Championship Series saying, "We are very excited and happy. This is what we have talked about for a long time to have happen, is play for the national championship."</p><separator></separator><p> </p><separator></separator><p>ASU now gears up for the Championship Series which will start tomorrow at 7 p.m. (5 p.m PT) on ESPN2 where they will face either Florida or Texas A&M pending on the outcome of tonight's final game.</p><separator></separator><p> </p>