TEMPE – Kenzie Brown recorded nine strikeouts in four innings, but it wasn't enough as Sun Devil Softball fell 4-0 against Oklahoma State on Wednesday night in a non-conference game at Farrington Stadium.
Brown exited after four with ASU trailing 1-0. She had allowed one run on three hits with those nine strikeouts. Oklahoma State added a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning, and they manufactured another run with just one hit in the seventh.
The Sun Devil pitching staff held OSU to 1-for-18 with runners on base despite allowing the leadoff hitter to reach in six of the seven innings.
ASU had two runners reach in the bottom of the second, but a double play ended the inning. They put runners on the corners in the fourth and came up empty. OSU then ended the sixth and seventh with double plays to give them three in the game.
Notable
Arizona State Head Coach Megan Bartlett
On Kenzie Brown's poise facing a tough Cowgirl lineup
"She's a warrior, she really is. I just cannot say enough good things about Makenzie Brown. She's got a lot of different ways to beat you. She's going to keep you off-balance."
On the importance of moving on from this game and resuming Big 12 play
"Extremely important because the reality is, while Oklahoma State is a quality opponent for us, this is a non-conference game. So looking ahead to Kansas this weekend, we'll get the team refocused. We need to find some fight. These kids came here to play in the World Series and they wanted a big moment on a big stage, and to play in front of 2,000 people in the stands every weekend, and that's what they're getting. Now, it's time to put our money where our mouth is and to be better as a team."
Up Next
Arizona State begins a series with Kansas on Friday at 6 p.m. at Farrington Stadium.
Brown exited after four with ASU trailing 1-0. She had allowed one run on three hits with those nine strikeouts. Oklahoma State added a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning, and they manufactured another run with just one hit in the seventh.
The Sun Devil pitching staff held OSU to 1-for-18 with runners on base despite allowing the leadoff hitter to reach in six of the seven innings.
ASU had two runners reach in the bottom of the second, but a double play ended the inning. They put runners on the corners in the fourth and came up empty. OSU then ended the sixth and seventh with double plays to give them three in the game.
Notable
- With nine strikeouts, Brown moved into the Big 12 lead with 167 on the season.
- This is the 12th game this season Brown has allowed two runs or less with at least four innings pitched.
- Yannixa Acuña and Tiare Ho-Ching each had a hit in the game to extend their active hitting streaks to six games.
Arizona State Head Coach Megan Bartlett
On Kenzie Brown's poise facing a tough Cowgirl lineup
"She's a warrior, she really is. I just cannot say enough good things about Makenzie Brown. She's got a lot of different ways to beat you. She's going to keep you off-balance."
On the importance of moving on from this game and resuming Big 12 play
"Extremely important because the reality is, while Oklahoma State is a quality opponent for us, this is a non-conference game. So looking ahead to Kansas this weekend, we'll get the team refocused. We need to find some fight. These kids came here to play in the World Series and they wanted a big moment on a big stage, and to play in front of 2,000 people in the stands every weekend, and that's what they're getting. Now, it's time to put our money where our mouth is and to be better as a team."
Up Next
Arizona State begins a series with Kansas on Friday at 6 p.m. at Farrington Stadium.