Sun Devil Softball returns to action this weekend with six games over four days at the Littlewood Classic. The event will feature 21 games between eight teams at Farrington Stadium and the GCU Softball Stadium.
ASU will open the Classic at Club Farrington on Thursday against No. 21 Oregon at 6 p.m. They will then play against North Dakota and Weber State on Friday and No. 25 Washington and Belmont on Saturday. The weekend concludes on Sunday, with ASU hosting Utah Valley.
Weekend Promotions
Friday night is the ASU Valentine's Celebration, which features a special Date Night Meal Deal at the concession stand. Sunday is the Strikeout Cancer game and Farrington Funday, with $1 nachos and kids running the bases after the game.
How to Follow
Thursday's game against Oregon and the Saturday game with Washington and Belmont will each air live on ESPN+. Live scoring will be available for every game of the Littlewood Classic. Updates – including time changes – will be provided on social media via X (@asusoftball) and Instagram (@sundevilsb). Complete Littlewood Classic details are available at thesundevils.com/feature/25littlewood.
Sun Devil Notes
The Sun Devils enter the weekend with a 3-1 record. They are second in the Big 12 with a .364 batting average while leading the conference by slugging .664. ASU is second in the NCAA by hitting 2.25 home runs per game and seventh with nine total homers.
In the circle, the Sun Devils have a 5.38 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. They are tops in the Big 12 and ninth nationally, recording 8.88 strikeouts per seven innings and 5.82 hits allowed per seven innings, which ranks fifth in the Big 12.
Looking Back
Arizona State completed the opening weekend of play at the Kajikawa Classic with a 3-1 record. They began the season with a 7-1 win over Maryland before rallying with a 10-run fifth inning to beat Miami (OH), 15-7.
After Miami came back to win the second meeting 12-4, ASU secured a 6-4 comeback win over California to cap the weekend. The team's scheduled game with Minnesota was canceled due to time.
About the Opposition
Some familiar opponents make their way to the desert for the Littlewood Classic in former Pac-12 rivals Oregon and Washington. Oregon went 5-0 last weekend in Las Vegas, leading the country with a .464 batting average.
North Dakota won its final three games of the UNI tournament, while Weber State secured three wins in San Antonio and twice scored double-digit runs.
Washington played four of its five games against a pair of ranked opponents and secured a split with Arizona during their weekend in Tucson. Belmont spent last weekend in Atlanta, where they picked up a pair of victories.
Utah Valley won two of the final three games in Sacramento and is fourth in the country with a .993 fielding percentage.
Preseason Accolades
Several ASU players received preseason honors during January. Kelsey Hall was named to the All-Big 12 Preseason Softball Team, and Tanya Windle was named the No. 30 outfielder in the NCAA by D1 Softball.
Freshmen Cambree Creager, Tiare Ho-Ching and Julianne Tipton were each named to the D1 Softball D100 Freshman Watch List and the Softball America Freshman Watch List.
Fast Starts
ASU has a history of getting off to fast starts with a 504-155 (.765) record in February. That includes a 384-83 (.822) record at home in the month.
Since Megan Bartlett took over as head coach for the 2023 season, ASU has compiled a 25-9 record in February, with a 16-7 mark in the first two weekends of the season.
Long Ball
ASU used the home run to win three games during the Kajikawa Classic. The Sun Devils hit at least two home runs in each of the four games, with three long balls in the first game against Miami. The nine home runs are the most of any team in the Big 12 and seventh-most in the NCAA. ASU is second in the country at 2.25 home runs per game.
Youth Movement
One of the youngest teams in the country, ASU saw seven freshmen make an appearance during the Kajikawa Classic. That group combined to make 16 starts, which accounts for 40 percent of the team's total starts.
All five freshmen that came to the plate recorded at least one hit, and four hit a home run. Both of the pitchers that appeared in the circle made a start and had multiple strikeouts.
Chasing 1,900
When play begins on Thursday, the Sun Devils are 18 wins away from 1,900 wins in program history. One of the most successful programs in the country, the team currently holds a record of 1882-955-2 (.663).
Hall Pass
Kelsey Hall opened her season 277 days after tearing her ACL and recorded a hit in each of the four games, with two multi-hit games. She homered in the first outing against Miami and added a double in the second game. Hall finished the Kajikawa Classic seventh in the Big 12 with a .545 batting average and a .909 slugging percentage.
Now in her sixth season of collegiate softball, Hall is 14th among active players with 127 runs scored, 26th with 31 home runs and 286 total bases, and 29th with 117 RBIs.
Tanya Time
Tanya Windle made an immediate impact on the new season with a home run leading off the bottom of the first inning of the season opener against Maryland. It was the first season-opening leadoff home run since at least 2000 when records are available.
She went on to pick up six hits and five RBIs during the Kajikawa Classic. That includes a walk-off double in the win over Miami and a three-hit outing in the win over Cal. She picked up her second home run against Cal, surpassing her total from the entire 2024 season.
Brown is Back
After sitting out last season with an injury, Kenzie Brown returned to the circle nearly unhittable last weekend. The senior struck out the first five batters she faced on her way to 19 strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched. Brown earned the save against Maryland and the win versus Cal, and she finished the weekend with just four hits and two runs (one earned) allowed.
Her 12.5 strikeouts per seven innings is third in the Big 12 and 12th nationally. She leads the conference and sits 13th in the country with a 0.38 WHIP.
Quick Hits
Samantha Swan recorded six hits, including three in game one with Miami, while starting all four games behind the plate.
AJ Murphy hit two home runs in the first Miami game for her career's first multi-home run game. She closed the weekend with five RBIs and tops in the Big 12 with a 1.500 slugging percentage.
In her first action since 2023 at UCF, Nehanda Lewis went 5-for-10 at the plate with a walk and three runs scored.
Grace Molitor made her ASU debut just 112 days after playing her final high school game on October 17, 2024. Starting all four games at shortstop, Molitor went 3-for-3 with a homer in the second Miami game and added another hit against Cal.
Looking Ahead
ASU will travel across town to face GCU on Tuesday before returning to Farrington Stadium to host the Sun Devil Classic. Among the opponents during the three days is No. 2/2 Florida.
ASU will open the Classic at Club Farrington on Thursday against No. 21 Oregon at 6 p.m. They will then play against North Dakota and Weber State on Friday and No. 25 Washington and Belmont on Saturday. The weekend concludes on Sunday, with ASU hosting Utah Valley.
Weekend Promotions
Friday night is the ASU Valentine's Celebration, which features a special Date Night Meal Deal at the concession stand. Sunday is the Strikeout Cancer game and Farrington Funday, with $1 nachos and kids running the bases after the game.
How to Follow
Thursday's game against Oregon and the Saturday game with Washington and Belmont will each air live on ESPN+. Live scoring will be available for every game of the Littlewood Classic. Updates – including time changes – will be provided on social media via X (@asusoftball) and Instagram (@sundevilsb). Complete Littlewood Classic details are available at thesundevils.com/feature/25littlewood.
Sun Devil Notes
The Sun Devils enter the weekend with a 3-1 record. They are second in the Big 12 with a .364 batting average while leading the conference by slugging .664. ASU is second in the NCAA by hitting 2.25 home runs per game and seventh with nine total homers.
In the circle, the Sun Devils have a 5.38 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. They are tops in the Big 12 and ninth nationally, recording 8.88 strikeouts per seven innings and 5.82 hits allowed per seven innings, which ranks fifth in the Big 12.
Looking Back
Arizona State completed the opening weekend of play at the Kajikawa Classic with a 3-1 record. They began the season with a 7-1 win over Maryland before rallying with a 10-run fifth inning to beat Miami (OH), 15-7.
After Miami came back to win the second meeting 12-4, ASU secured a 6-4 comeback win over California to cap the weekend. The team's scheduled game with Minnesota was canceled due to time.
About the Opposition
Some familiar opponents make their way to the desert for the Littlewood Classic in former Pac-12 rivals Oregon and Washington. Oregon went 5-0 last weekend in Las Vegas, leading the country with a .464 batting average.
North Dakota won its final three games of the UNI tournament, while Weber State secured three wins in San Antonio and twice scored double-digit runs.
Washington played four of its five games against a pair of ranked opponents and secured a split with Arizona during their weekend in Tucson. Belmont spent last weekend in Atlanta, where they picked up a pair of victories.
Utah Valley won two of the final three games in Sacramento and is fourth in the country with a .993 fielding percentage.
Preseason Accolades
Several ASU players received preseason honors during January. Kelsey Hall was named to the All-Big 12 Preseason Softball Team, and Tanya Windle was named the No. 30 outfielder in the NCAA by D1 Softball.
Freshmen Cambree Creager, Tiare Ho-Ching and Julianne Tipton were each named to the D1 Softball D100 Freshman Watch List and the Softball America Freshman Watch List.
Fast Starts
ASU has a history of getting off to fast starts with a 504-155 (.765) record in February. That includes a 384-83 (.822) record at home in the month.
Since Megan Bartlett took over as head coach for the 2023 season, ASU has compiled a 25-9 record in February, with a 16-7 mark in the first two weekends of the season.
Long Ball
ASU used the home run to win three games during the Kajikawa Classic. The Sun Devils hit at least two home runs in each of the four games, with three long balls in the first game against Miami. The nine home runs are the most of any team in the Big 12 and seventh-most in the NCAA. ASU is second in the country at 2.25 home runs per game.
Youth Movement
One of the youngest teams in the country, ASU saw seven freshmen make an appearance during the Kajikawa Classic. That group combined to make 16 starts, which accounts for 40 percent of the team's total starts.
All five freshmen that came to the plate recorded at least one hit, and four hit a home run. Both of the pitchers that appeared in the circle made a start and had multiple strikeouts.
Chasing 1,900
When play begins on Thursday, the Sun Devils are 18 wins away from 1,900 wins in program history. One of the most successful programs in the country, the team currently holds a record of 1882-955-2 (.663).
Hall Pass
Kelsey Hall opened her season 277 days after tearing her ACL and recorded a hit in each of the four games, with two multi-hit games. She homered in the first outing against Miami and added a double in the second game. Hall finished the Kajikawa Classic seventh in the Big 12 with a .545 batting average and a .909 slugging percentage.
Now in her sixth season of collegiate softball, Hall is 14th among active players with 127 runs scored, 26th with 31 home runs and 286 total bases, and 29th with 117 RBIs.
Tanya Time
Tanya Windle made an immediate impact on the new season with a home run leading off the bottom of the first inning of the season opener against Maryland. It was the first season-opening leadoff home run since at least 2000 when records are available.
She went on to pick up six hits and five RBIs during the Kajikawa Classic. That includes a walk-off double in the win over Miami and a three-hit outing in the win over Cal. She picked up her second home run against Cal, surpassing her total from the entire 2024 season.
Brown is Back
After sitting out last season with an injury, Kenzie Brown returned to the circle nearly unhittable last weekend. The senior struck out the first five batters she faced on her way to 19 strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched. Brown earned the save against Maryland and the win versus Cal, and she finished the weekend with just four hits and two runs (one earned) allowed.
Her 12.5 strikeouts per seven innings is third in the Big 12 and 12th nationally. She leads the conference and sits 13th in the country with a 0.38 WHIP.
Quick Hits
Samantha Swan recorded six hits, including three in game one with Miami, while starting all four games behind the plate.
AJ Murphy hit two home runs in the first Miami game for her career's first multi-home run game. She closed the weekend with five RBIs and tops in the Big 12 with a 1.500 slugging percentage.
In her first action since 2023 at UCF, Nehanda Lewis went 5-for-10 at the plate with a walk and three runs scored.
Grace Molitor made her ASU debut just 112 days after playing her final high school game on October 17, 2024. Starting all four games at shortstop, Molitor went 3-for-3 with a homer in the second Miami game and added another hit against Cal.
Looking Ahead
ASU will travel across town to face GCU on Tuesday before returning to Farrington Stadium to host the Sun Devil Classic. Among the opponents during the three days is No. 2/2 Florida.