TEMPE – The final full weekend of non-conference action is on tap for Sun Devil Softball, as they host the ASU Invitational at Farrington Stadium. Arizona State is scheduled to play six games during the four days of the Invitational, with two games on Friday and Saturday.
The first of two weekend meetings with former Pac-12 foe Oregon State starts the action on Friday at 6 p.m. ASU will face Seattle and Yale on Friday and then UTEP and Utah State on Saturday. The first pitch on both days is at 4 p.m. Play concludes on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. with the second game against Oregon State.
Weekend Promotions
Friday night will be the annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration. Saturday is Youth Softball Night, with a special Kids' Combo Meal available at the concession stand. Farrington Funday is back on Sunday with $1 pretzels and Kids Run the Bases after the game.
How to Follow
All six Sun Devil games during the ASU Invitational will air live on ESPN+, and live scoring will be available for every game on the weekend.
Updates – including any time changes if the early games run long – will be provided on social media via X (@asusoftball) and Instagram (@sundevilsb). Complete ASU Invitational details are available at thesundevils.com/feature/25invite.
Sun Devil Notes
Arizona State heads into the weekend having won three straight games to improve to 10-5 on the season. That includes wins in six of the last eight games at home, which boosts its 10-4 mark at Farrington Stadium.
ASU's slash line is .309/.391/.512 through the first 15 games. The team is second in the Big 12 in slugging percentage, home runs, and home runs per game. They score 5.40 runs per game while stealing 1.20 bases per contest.
The pitching staff has a 3.26 ERA and 1.18 WHIP as play begins this weekend. ASU is third in the conference and 48th in the NCAA with 6.24 strikeouts per seven innings. It is also 14th nationally with a 3.60 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Looking Back
The Sun Devils are coming off a 3-1 showing at the Sun Devil Classic, with the loss coming to No. 3 Florida. ASU followed that game with wins over California Baptist, Portland State, and New Mexico State.
About the Opposition
Former Pac-12 rival Oregon State comes to Tempe with a 6-8 record. The Beavers are batting .263 with a 2.98 ERA.
Seattle will visit the desert with an 8-7 record after winning three of their last four games. The Redhawks are sixth in the country by averaging 2.27 doubles per game.
Yale opened its season last weekend and went 1-4 during the Boerner Invitational at UT Arlington. The Bulldogs' slash line is .205/.306/.283, and they have a 7.70 ERA.
UTEP brings a 9-5 record into the weekend, but the Miners have dropped three of the last four games. They rank eighth in the country with a .372 batting average and a .651 slugging 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 511-159 (.763) record in February. That includes a 391-86 (.820) record at home in the month. Since Megan Bartlett took over as head coach for the 2023 season, ASU has compiled a 32-13 record in February.
Long Ball
ASU has used the long ball to its advantage early in the season, with 20 home runs during the first 15 games. That puts the team 22nd in the country at 1.33 home runs per game while contributing to the .512 slugging percentage, which is 43rd in the nation.
The Sun Devils have hit multiple home runs in a game eight times, going 7-1 in those games. ASU has also held the opposition to just six home runs, and they are giving up a homer every 66 at-bats.
Youth Movement
One of the youngest teams in the country, ASU has had eight freshmen make at least one appearance so far this season. Those freshmen have combined to make 55 starts, accounting for 37 percent of all starts for the year.
The group has combined to hit nine home runs and drive in 36 while also going 2-2 with 20 strikeouts in the circle.
Chasing 1,900
When play begins on Friday, the Sun Devils are 11 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 1,889-959-2 (.663).
Hall Pass
Kelsey Hall opened the season in the starting lineup just 277 days after tearing her ACL. In starting every game this season, Hall leads the team with a .462 batting average, four home runs, and 14 RBIs. She has recorded a hit in 11 of the first 15 games, including the last four.
Hall has homered in three straight games as play begins this weekend. It's the second three-game home run streak of her career. Now in her sixth season of collegiate softball, Hall is 14th among active players with 133 runs scored, 21st with 307 total bases, 24th with 34 home runs, and 25th with 126 RBIs.
Tanya Time
Tanya Windle has taken over as the starter in center field and is second on the team lead with 15 hits while batting .294. She has recorded a hit in 12 of the team's 15 games, including a pair of multi-hit games.
Windle has hit three home runs after hitting just one during the 2024 season. She immediately impacted 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.
Brown is Back
After sitting out last season with an injury, Kenzie Brown has been solid in her return to the circle. The senior struck out the first five batters she faced this season and now has 41 strikeouts in 28.1 innings pitched.
Brown is fourth in the Big 12 in total strikeouts and second in strikeouts per seven innings (10.1). Her 0.74 WHIP is good for third in the league, and her 6.83 strikeout-to-walk ratio is fourth-best.
Around the Horn
Tiare Ho-Ching is up to 14 hits and 12 runs scored in the first month of her collegiate career. She is second on the team with a .341 batting average, hitting a pair of home runs and driving in 12.
AJ Murphy returned to the lineup at GCU after missing the prior six games with an injury. Murphy is batting .421 with three home runs and eight RBIs. She enters the weekend with five hits in the last three games.
Nehanda Lewis is third on the club with a .325 batting average, picking up 13 hits. She has a hit in 11 of the 15 games, with six RBIs and six runs scored.
Meika Lauppe leads the team with eight starts in the circle and 39 innings pitched. She has posted a 4-2 record with a 1.44 ERA. Lauppe is eighth in the Big 12 with 29 strikeouts and her 0.85 WHIP. She has allowed two runs or less in eight of her 11 appearances.
Looking Ahead
The Sun Devils will remain home next week to begin Big 12 play with a three-game series against BYU. The series runs March 6-8 (Thursday-Saturday) and airs live on ESPN+. It will be Alumni Weekend, and the dedication of the Lapan Sunshine Devil Deck will take place on March 7.
The first of two weekend meetings with former Pac-12 foe Oregon State starts the action on Friday at 6 p.m. ASU will face Seattle and Yale on Friday and then UTEP and Utah State on Saturday. The first pitch on both days is at 4 p.m. Play concludes on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. with the second game against Oregon State.
Weekend Promotions
Friday night will be the annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration. Saturday is Youth Softball Night, with a special Kids' Combo Meal available at the concession stand. Farrington Funday is back on Sunday with $1 pretzels and Kids Run the Bases after the game.
How to Follow
All six Sun Devil games during the ASU Invitational will air live on ESPN+, and live scoring will be available for every game on the weekend.
Updates – including any time changes if the early games run long – will be provided on social media via X (@asusoftball) and Instagram (@sundevilsb). Complete ASU Invitational details are available at thesundevils.com/feature/25invite.
Sun Devil Notes
Arizona State heads into the weekend having won three straight games to improve to 10-5 on the season. That includes wins in six of the last eight games at home, which boosts its 10-4 mark at Farrington Stadium.
ASU's slash line is .309/.391/.512 through the first 15 games. The team is second in the Big 12 in slugging percentage, home runs, and home runs per game. They score 5.40 runs per game while stealing 1.20 bases per contest.
The pitching staff has a 3.26 ERA and 1.18 WHIP as play begins this weekend. ASU is third in the conference and 48th in the NCAA with 6.24 strikeouts per seven innings. It is also 14th nationally with a 3.60 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Looking Back
The Sun Devils are coming off a 3-1 showing at the Sun Devil Classic, with the loss coming to No. 3 Florida. ASU followed that game with wins over California Baptist, Portland State, and New Mexico State.
About the Opposition
Former Pac-12 rival Oregon State comes to Tempe with a 6-8 record. The Beavers are batting .263 with a 2.98 ERA.
Seattle will visit the desert with an 8-7 record after winning three of their last four games. The Redhawks are sixth in the country by averaging 2.27 doubles per game.
Yale opened its season last weekend and went 1-4 during the Boerner Invitational at UT Arlington. The Bulldogs' slash line is .205/.306/.283, and they have a 7.70 ERA.
UTEP brings a 9-5 record into the weekend, but the Miners have dropped three of the last four games. They rank eighth in the country with a .372 batting average and a .651 slugging 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 511-159 (.763) record in February. That includes a 391-86 (.820) record at home in the month. Since Megan Bartlett took over as head coach for the 2023 season, ASU has compiled a 32-13 record in February.
Long Ball
ASU has used the long ball to its advantage early in the season, with 20 home runs during the first 15 games. That puts the team 22nd in the country at 1.33 home runs per game while contributing to the .512 slugging percentage, which is 43rd in the nation.
The Sun Devils have hit multiple home runs in a game eight times, going 7-1 in those games. ASU has also held the opposition to just six home runs, and they are giving up a homer every 66 at-bats.
Youth Movement
One of the youngest teams in the country, ASU has had eight freshmen make at least one appearance so far this season. Those freshmen have combined to make 55 starts, accounting for 37 percent of all starts for the year.
The group has combined to hit nine home runs and drive in 36 while also going 2-2 with 20 strikeouts in the circle.
Chasing 1,900
When play begins on Friday, the Sun Devils are 11 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 1,889-959-2 (.663).
Hall Pass
Kelsey Hall opened the season in the starting lineup just 277 days after tearing her ACL. In starting every game this season, Hall leads the team with a .462 batting average, four home runs, and 14 RBIs. She has recorded a hit in 11 of the first 15 games, including the last four.
Hall has homered in three straight games as play begins this weekend. It's the second three-game home run streak of her career. Now in her sixth season of collegiate softball, Hall is 14th among active players with 133 runs scored, 21st with 307 total bases, 24th with 34 home runs, and 25th with 126 RBIs.
Tanya Time
Tanya Windle has taken over as the starter in center field and is second on the team lead with 15 hits while batting .294. She has recorded a hit in 12 of the team's 15 games, including a pair of multi-hit games.
Windle has hit three home runs after hitting just one during the 2024 season. She immediately impacted 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.
Brown is Back
After sitting out last season with an injury, Kenzie Brown has been solid in her return to the circle. The senior struck out the first five batters she faced this season and now has 41 strikeouts in 28.1 innings pitched.
Brown is fourth in the Big 12 in total strikeouts and second in strikeouts per seven innings (10.1). Her 0.74 WHIP is good for third in the league, and her 6.83 strikeout-to-walk ratio is fourth-best.
Around the Horn
Tiare Ho-Ching is up to 14 hits and 12 runs scored in the first month of her collegiate career. She is second on the team with a .341 batting average, hitting a pair of home runs and driving in 12.
AJ Murphy returned to the lineup at GCU after missing the prior six games with an injury. Murphy is batting .421 with three home runs and eight RBIs. She enters the weekend with five hits in the last three games.
Nehanda Lewis is third on the club with a .325 batting average, picking up 13 hits. She has a hit in 11 of the 15 games, with six RBIs and six runs scored.
Meika Lauppe leads the team with eight starts in the circle and 39 innings pitched. She has posted a 4-2 record with a 1.44 ERA. Lauppe is eighth in the Big 12 with 29 strikeouts and her 0.85 WHIP. She has allowed two runs or less in eight of her 11 appearances.
Looking Ahead
The Sun Devils will remain home next week to begin Big 12 play with a three-game series against BYU. The series runs March 6-8 (Thursday-Saturday) and airs live on ESPN+. It will be Alumni Weekend, and the dedication of the Lapan Sunshine Devil Deck will take place on March 7.