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The 76 Team: RV/No. 22 Softball earns second 7-6 win in as many days

For second consecutive night, Sun Devils rally in the fifth to extend winning streak to six straight

The 76 Team: RV/No. 22 Softball earns second 7-6 win in as many daysThe 76 Team: RV/No. 22 Softball earns second 7-6 win in as many days
by Chris Brown
Box Score

TEMPE – It’s not every day a softball program wins two straight games by the exact same score and – nearly – exact same script. Except the Sun Devil Softball program did just that Friday night.

Just 24 hours after rally to beat Indiana, Arizona State used leftover magic to put together a three-run bottom of the fifth on four hits and two Nevada errors to leave Farrington Stadium with a 7-6 win for the second consecutive day.

Exactly like Thursday night, Nevada (4-3) jumped on the Sun Devils early with a four-run first, before Arizona State responded with three in the second – courtesy of a Samantha Swan three-run home run – and one in the third on a JazMarie Roberts’ one-out, run-scoring double to tie the game.

And exactly like the Hoosiers the night before, the Wolf Pack immediately answered right back with a two-run fourth to re-take the lead 6-4.

Then the bottom of the fifth started. And even though no rabbit appeared on the field, the Sun Devils knew it was time for a rally.

It took just nine pitches for Arizona State to tie the game and five more to re-take the lead.

Katie Chester opened the frame with a single to center field. Ashleigh Mejia reached on a fielder’s choice. Kaylee Pond cleared the bases with a single to center field then Nevada centerfielder Madison Clark misplayed the ball, which allowed both Corie Shull – who entered the game as pinch runner for Chester – and Mejia to score and Pond to find her way to third.

Roberts waved her wand on a 2-2 pitch, and the ball found a hole in the left side of the diamond and Pond scored to give ASU a one-run lead.

Clinging to a one-run lead to begin the sixth and knowing Nevada had at least one baserunner on in each of the previous five innings, Arizona State head coach Megan Bartlett opted to bring in Kenzie Brown, who threw 125 pitches over seven innings against Indiana the night before, to attempt to close the door.

Brown (2-1) did not allow any of the six Wolf Pack batters she faced to reach base. In fact, three struck out, two flied out to the outfield and another popped up to Roberts at short.

FROM HEAD COACH MEGAN BARTLETT

“Tonight was another gritty win. We had to grind it out for that one. Nevada is a very good team. They won 41 games last season. We got into a little bit of trouble early, but I’m really proud of us. The offense continues to put pressure on defenses, chip away at any deficit and grind out runs to get back in it. And then Kenzie (Brown) comes in to slam the door. It all certainly worked out. I just wish they would stop making games so interesting for us, but that’s softball. And I certainly can’t be upset with the fight this team has.”

FROM FRESHMAN INFIELDER JAZMARIE ROBERTS

“I am just telling myself to get the job done. I knew I was in there for a reason and to just trust myself. I know, no matter what, my team and coaches have trust and belief in me. I really was just focusing on passing the bat down the lineup and help create momentum for us to use.”

GAME NOTES

  • With her strikeout for the second out in the top of the sixth, Arizona State’s Kenzie Brown has now struck out at least one batter in 40 consecutive pitching appearances. The last time Brown failed to register a strikeout during an appearance occurred on May 10, 2023, when she worked a 0.1 innings at Arizona.
  • After entering the game as a defensive sub to start the top of the fourth, first-year Sun Devil Brooklyn Ulrich was credited with her first hit since joining the Arizona State program as the Marshall transfer sent a 3-2 pitch into right field for a two-out single.
  • With its three runs in the bottom of the fifth, Arizona State has now outscored opponents, 11-4, during the fifth inning. When including the sixth (13-4) and seventh (3-1) innings, the Sun Devils are outscoring opponents, 27-9, over a game’s final three frames.
  • After entering the game as a pinch runner for Katie Chester, who led off the bottom of the fifth with a single to centerfield, Corie Shull came around to score on Kaylee Pond’s fifth-inning plate appearance to cut the ASU deficit to one run. By going on to score two more runs during the inning and eventually earning the victory, the Sun Devils are now 5-0 during the 2026 season when Shull enters the game as a pinch runner and scores a run.

UP NEXT

  • Halfway through the Littlewood Invitational with three wins added to its season total, Arizona State (7-1) will now look to extend its current winning streak to eight consecutive games on Saturday, Feb. 14, when the Sun Devils take on Portland State (12:45 p.m. MST/ESPN+) and Pacific (6:15 p.m. MST/ESPN+).

FOLLOW US

  • For the latest information on the team, follow @SunDevilSoftball on X, Facebook and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @TheSunDevils on X, Instagram and Facebook.