TEMPE, Ariz. – Head coach Megan Bartlett has captured three more Sun Devils for the 2023 softball roster that includes graduate transfer Alexa Milius, freshman catcher Shannon Cunningham and younger sister of outfielder Yannira Acuña, Yannixa Acuña.
The additions bring the Sun Devils' total roster size to 21 as of August 13.
A fifth year from Connecticut, Milius appeared in 25 games this past season, including nine starts at third base. The incoming graduate has assembled 32 RBIs, nine home runs and 39 hits in her two seasons with Virginia Tech. In 2021, Milius was named to the VaSID Second-Team All-State in a season included a walk-off home run against BYU in the Tempe Regional to send the Hokies to the super-regional. She appeared in 43 games in the 2021 season and started in 33 games, with 13 at designated hitter, 10 at catcher and 10 at third base.
"Alexa is a versatile defender and will give us depth in the middle of the lineup. She is a mature and charismatic young woman with a team-first mentality," coach Bartlett said. "She will make the program stronger on and off the field! We're thrilled to have her."
An incoming freshman from Tustin, Calif., Cunningham will provide depth from behind the plate and provide power at-bat. Her senior season at Foothill high school had a team-leading batting average of .469, with 15 hits, seven RBIs and four home runs on the season. She led the team with a .595 on base percentage too. Defensively, the freshman had a perfect fielding percentage her senior season while appearing in 33 games for her career at Foothill high school.
"Shannon is a strong, explosive athlete and she's going to immediately compete behind the dish. We're excited to work with her. She has great potential at the plate."
The younger sister of graduate player Yannira Acuña, Yaya Acuña is from Salpointe Catholic High School. She helped lead her team to a state title for the 2022 season. The Tucson native appeared and started all 34 games in center field for the Lancers while batting .526, gathering 61 hits, 20 RBIs and four home runs her senior year. Very much like her sister, Yaya is quick around the bases, leading her team in stolen bases her senior year with 34. The sister duo look to make an impact in the upcoming 2023 season as Yanni returns after a stellar 2022 season where she led the Sun Devils to a Pac-12 championship.
"Yaya is a Sun Devil through and through," Bartlett stated. "She's an extremely hard worker with great speed and instincts on the bases. She makes us a more well-rounded team."
Shannon Cunningham
Sun Devils from 2022 Season
Halle Harger (Gr)
Jazmyn Rollin (Sr)
Marissa Schuld (Jr)
Liliana Thomas (So)
Savannah Price (Jr)
Jordyn VanHook (Sr)
Yanni Acuña (Gr)
Emily Cazares (Jr)
Makenna Harper (Gr)
Jazmine Hill (Sr)
Incoming Sun Devils as of August 13, 2022
Kayln McCarthy, OF (Fr)
Kylee MaGee, RHP (Fr)
Deborah Jones, RHP (Transfer from Ball State)
Mac Osborne, RHP (Transfer from Virginia Tech)
Taylor Nicholson, INF (Transfer from Mizzou)
Kenzie Nicholson, 2B/OF (Fr)
Kenzie Brown, RHP (Transfer from Tulsa)
Gianna Boccagno, C (Graduate Transfer from Boston College)
Yannixa Acuña, OF (Fr)
Shannon Cunningham, C (Fr)
Alexa Milius, (Graduate Transfer from Virginia Tech)
The additions bring the Sun Devils' total roster size to 21 as of August 13.
A fifth year from Connecticut, Milius appeared in 25 games this past season, including nine starts at third base. The incoming graduate has assembled 32 RBIs, nine home runs and 39 hits in her two seasons with Virginia Tech. In 2021, Milius was named to the VaSID Second-Team All-State in a season included a walk-off home run against BYU in the Tempe Regional to send the Hokies to the super-regional. She appeared in 43 games in the 2021 season and started in 33 games, with 13 at designated hitter, 10 at catcher and 10 at third base.
"Alexa is a versatile defender and will give us depth in the middle of the lineup. She is a mature and charismatic young woman with a team-first mentality," coach Bartlett said. "She will make the program stronger on and off the field! We're thrilled to have her."
An incoming freshman from Tustin, Calif., Cunningham will provide depth from behind the plate and provide power at-bat. Her senior season at Foothill high school had a team-leading batting average of .469, with 15 hits, seven RBIs and four home runs on the season. She led the team with a .595 on base percentage too. Defensively, the freshman had a perfect fielding percentage her senior season while appearing in 33 games for her career at Foothill high school.
"Shannon is a strong, explosive athlete and she's going to immediately compete behind the dish. We're excited to work with her. She has great potential at the plate."
The younger sister of graduate player Yannira Acuña, Yaya Acuña is from Salpointe Catholic High School. She helped lead her team to a state title for the 2022 season. The Tucson native appeared and started all 34 games in center field for the Lancers while batting .526, gathering 61 hits, 20 RBIs and four home runs her senior year. Very much like her sister, Yaya is quick around the bases, leading her team in stolen bases her senior year with 34. The sister duo look to make an impact in the upcoming 2023 season as Yanni returns after a stellar 2022 season where she led the Sun Devils to a Pac-12 championship.
"Yaya is a Sun Devil through and through," Bartlett stated. "She's an extremely hard worker with great speed and instincts on the bases. She makes us a more well-rounded team."
Shannon Cunningham
- Utility player who can play catcher or outfield
- Orange County All-County Second Team (2022)
- Represented Foothills High in the Orange County All-Star Game (2022)
- First Team All-Crestview League (2022)
- Foothills Knight of Honor (2022)
- Appeared in 95 games in her high school career at Salpointe, younger sister of Yannira Acuña. Started in all 34 games her senior year winning a state title in 2022.
- Has a career batting average of .462, with 134 career hits, 53 RBIs, 124 runs and an on base percentage of .518.
- 61 career stolen bases in her four years in Tucson, led the team in 2022 with 34 SBs.
- Three straight years of having a perfect fielding percentage while playing centerfield for the Lancers.
- Appeared in 68 games & started in 42 for the Hokies in her two years at Virginia Tech.
- She has assembled 32 RBIs, nine home runs and 39 hits in her two seasons with Virginia Tech.
- Has a career batting average of .302, while in the Tempe Regional in the 2021 season Milius hit .636 while leading the team in five RBIs and two home runs to lead the Hokies to its second Super regional in program history which included a walk-off home run against BYU.
- Named the 2021 VaSID Second-Team All-State.
Sun Devils from 2022 Season
Halle Harger (Gr)
Jazmyn Rollin (Sr)
Marissa Schuld (Jr)
Liliana Thomas (So)
Savannah Price (Jr)
Jordyn VanHook (Sr)
Yanni Acuña (Gr)
Emily Cazares (Jr)
Makenna Harper (Gr)
Jazmine Hill (Sr)
Incoming Sun Devils as of August 13, 2022
Kayln McCarthy, OF (Fr)
Kylee MaGee, RHP (Fr)
Deborah Jones, RHP (Transfer from Ball State)
Mac Osborne, RHP (Transfer from Virginia Tech)
Taylor Nicholson, INF (Transfer from Mizzou)
Kenzie Nicholson, 2B/OF (Fr)
Kenzie Brown, RHP (Transfer from Tulsa)
Gianna Boccagno, C (Graduate Transfer from Boston College)
Yannixa Acuña, OF (Fr)
Shannon Cunningham, C (Fr)
Alexa Milius, (Graduate Transfer from Virginia Tech)