Arizona State softball (33-15, 13-7 Big 12) overcame some early hiccups to defeat Baylor (21-23, 7-10 Big 12) by a final score of 4-2 on Friday night at Farrington Stadium. The win kept ASU in third place in the Big 12 amid a close race in the conference standings.
Freshman outfielder Ashleigh Mejia, who leads the team in home runs, and graduate designated player Kelsey Hall each pitched in with a homer in the win. Hall also recorded three RBIs to bring her season total to a team-leading 47 in the category.
Entering the evening, ASU remained eager to stay within striking distance of second place in the Big 12 standings, as it sat two games behind its in-state rival, Arizona. Meanwhile, Baylor came in hoping to bounce back after losing 5-0 to the Sun Devils 24 hours prior.
After being kept off the scoreboard last night, the Bears wasted no time getting on the board by taking the lead in the first inning. A few hits and an error by freshman infielder Takyla Davis put runners on base for Baylor.
The Bears cashed in on the early threat, as senior infielder Presleigh Pilon came in to score on a bunt from sophomore catcher Abi Flores. Another mistake by Davis allowed Baylor to add another run before sophomore right-handed pitcher Meika Lauppe ended the inning with a strikeout.
Despite the sloppy start, ASU head coach Megan Bartlett remained calm in the dugout and believed in her young squad.
“I didn’t say much to the kids,” Bartlett said on the first inning slump. “They clearly knew we were not thrilled about how they started the game. But they’re finding a way to play for each other and lead one another. They calmed down the next inning, and I knew they were going to be OK.”
The Sun Devils snatched back momentum in the second inning following home runs from Mejia and Hall. The freshman struck her 13th long ball of the year into center field. Then, after junior infielder Ayden Allen walked, Hall launched a similar-looking home run into center field to record her 10th of the year. The pair of long balls gave the Maroon and Gold a 3-2 lead.
After conceding two runs in the opening inning of the game, Lauppe held the Bears scoreless, pitching until the sixth inning when senior right-handed reliever Kenzie Brown entered the game. She finished with only one earned run to her name and three strikeouts.
“I don’t think our mindset changed,” Lauppe said after the game. “They told me, ‘Hey, I have you next play’ and they made some incredible plays on the left side. I knew they’d get me every time.”
Brown immediately impacted the game in the circle for the Sun Devils. The senior, who allowed zero runs in last night’s win, recorded four strikeouts and allowed just two hits in the two innings she pitched. Once again, she kept the Bears off the scoreboard.
“We’ve got two phenomenal pitchers,” Bartlett said on the performances from Lauppe and Brown. “They both go up down and have a good change up. I’m super happy with Kenzie and Meika, they’re doing a phenomenal job.”
ASU extended its lead to 4-2 after Hall drove an RBI single into right field, which allowed Allen to come in to score.
With six straight wins in Big 12 play, Bartlett’s side is firing on all cylinders heading into the regular season home finale. And as the conference tournament looms on the horizon, the Sun Devils will look to carry their momentum into postseason play.
“I’m super proud of the girls,” Bartlett said. “We have to keep taking care of business and play how we’re capable. Hopefully we’ll start [tomorrow’s] game a bit stronger than we did tonight.”
With the victory, ASU is on the verge of nabbing two consecutive series sweeps for the first time since the 2022 season.
The Sun Devils return to Farrington Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m. AZT to take on Baylor in the final home game of the season. Arizona State will honor its seniors before the game and try to pick up a win on Senior Day, as it nears the end of its regular season slate.
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