Offense dominates for No.21 ASU in doubleheader sweep of Michigan, New Mexico State

February 22, 2026 Ruby Dungan Inferno Intel, Softball 0

ASU outfielder Kaylee Pond pictured in the Sun Devils' 9-8 loss at home to Michigan on Feb. 20. (Austin Hurst / Inferno Intel).

TEMPE – Energy buzzed throughout Alberta B. Farrington Stadium on Saturday, as No. 21 Arizona State’s bats remained supercharged through a dominant doubleheader showing, beating Michigan 8-0 and New Mexico State 9-1.

With strong performances from both the Sun Devils’ offense and pitching staff, the Maroon and Gold defeated both opponents by virtue of the run-ahead rule. Coach Megan Bartlett’s squad improves to 13-2 overall and 3-1 in the Sun Devil Classic, with the team’s only loss coming on Friday against the Wolverines.

Offensively, Sparky recorded a combined 16 hits and 17 runs through both games on Saturday. In the circle, senior right-handed pitcher Kenzie Brown and senior left-hander Aissa Silva allowed just one run and eight hits across both games, combining for 18 strikeouts.

Brown kicked off Saturday with her third shutout of the season and pitching nine strikeouts in the dominant win against Michigan. The senior also allowed two or fewer hits for the fifth time this season.

“Got Kenzie back out on the mound, and she threw a gem,” Bartlett said after Saturday’s doubleheader. “She kind of did Kenize things and just kept the ball moving, kept them off balance.”

The Sun Devils sent the ball flying for multiple home runs during the win against the Wolverines. Senior outfielder Kaylee Pond attacked early, hitting a three-run homer in the first inning. Junior infielder Katie Chester followed with a solo home run in the fourth to give the hosts a 4-0 advantage.

“It’s nice to put up a crooked number in the first inning; that was the goal,” Pond said. “We went in trying to trust the plan and jump on them early. We have a tendency of going one time through the lineup, and we tried to make that adjustment from the jump. It would not have been a crooked number without Tanya (Windle) getting on, and then Ashleigh (Mejia) with the walk, though. Overall, it was just a good, productive offense during the first inning.”


The momentum continued as ASU got the chance to finish the game early via run-ahead rule – a ruling which ends a game if a team is leading by eight or more runs after five complete innings. Senior infielder Brooklyn Ulrich began the inning with a deep homer to left field. Following this, senior outfielder Tanya Windle ripped a single RBI to extend Sparky’s lead to six.

“As a hitter, she’s (Windle) on fire right now,” Bartlett said. “She’s been a career .360, .370 hitter since we’ve had her.”

Senior outfielder Yannixa Acuña stepped up to the plate with a chance to walk it off. And she did just that — The senior struck a single into a gap in center field to score the final two runs and secure the victory for Arizona State.

Bartlett’s team entered the second game shortly afterward with a palpable ferocity and liveliness, as the Sun Devils continued their strong offensive form.

Silva followed Brown’s impressive performance with a strong outing of her own. She pitched a complete game with nine strikeouts, six hits and one run allowed.

“Aissa comes out, and she throws a gem,” Bartlett said. “Her command was much better tonight.”

The Maroon and Gold offense wasted no time flexing its muscles as it scored nine runs in the first two innings. Junior catcher Emily Schepp kept the home run trend going with a two-run shot to deep left field to score the first runs of the game.



“I was looking for something I could drive,” Schepp said. “Looking back at the first game, I felt like I was a little passive, so I just wanted to get it from the jump.”

ASU scored two more runs in the first on a two-run RBI by freshman utility player JazMarie Roberts. Sparky added five more runs in the following inning to put the game out of reach, winning 9-1 against the Aggies.

Bartlett’s team plays its final game of the Sun Devil Classic on Sunday — once again against New Mexico State – at 11:45 a.m. MST at Farrington Stadium, as it hopes to hear the crack of the bat as much as it did Saturday and turn in another dominant performance in the circle.

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