June 4, 2008 — Behind the stellar performance of hard-throwing pitcher Katie Burkhart, the ASU softball team marched into Oklahoma City and came away as national champions.

Burkhart pitched a four-hit shutout and recorded 13 strikeouts in an 11-0 victory of Texas A&M in the title game, the second-most lopsided final in Women’s College World Series history.

“This is the most phenomenal experience I’ve ever had,” Burkhart told the Associated Press after the game. “This is what I’ve dreamed about for my entire life. To be able to experience this is something truly amazing.”

It was the first national championship in the sport for ASU and capped off a 66-5 season.

Kaitlin Cochran led the offense with a home run and three RBIs in the title game.