May 25, 2007

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TEMPE, Ariz. - A clutch RBI single from Mindy Cowles and a flawless two-hit complete game shutout with 15 strikeouts from Katie Burkhart painted the picture Friday as the seventh-seeded ASU Softball team took one step closer to the College World Series Friday night as they opened the Tempe Super Regional with a 1-0 win over the tenth-seeded LSU Tigers in 10 innings. 1,610 spectators witnessed the game as ASU advanced to 53-15 overall while dropping LSU to 55-11 and one loss from elimination.

The game proved to be a pitching duel as ASU's ace, Katie Burkhart faced off against LSU's senior ace, Emily Turner. The pitchers were flawless until the third when Turner gave up a tough single to Bianca Cruz, but the Tigers closed out the inning unscathed. Katie Burkhart continued to pitch at her finest, striking out the side in the first and cruising through all ten innings while giving up only two hits.

Going into extras, both teams stayed with their pitcher who kept the game deadlocked until the 10^th inning where Jessica Mapes drew a walk and Kaitlin Cochran singled to left center to put Mapes in scoring position as Mindy Cowles dug in to rope the first pitch she saw to the left center pocket to plate Mapes with the walk-off RBI single and bring home a game one win.

The win sets two new ASU single-season records, for overall wins with 52 and for single-season pitching wins as Katie Burkhart took her 34^th win of the season, besting Erica Beach's record of 33 from the 2002 season.

Game Two of the Tempe Super Regional kicks off tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. at Farrington Stadium with a trip to the College World Series on the line. If LSU were to win the first game they would force a decisive game three to start at 7 p.m. or 30 minutes after Game Two's finish.