The Arizona softball team lost its third straight game, all by run rule after winning a program-record nine straight games in that fashion in a 16-5 setback to archrival Arizona State at Hillenbrand Stadium on Friday night.
Arizona State (23-7, 3-4 Big 12) came out focused from the first pitch getting a leadoff homerun to start the game en route a complete dismantling of the Wildcats.
The Sun Devils ended the rout with 15 hits – six of those being home runs – while the Wildcats were limited to four hits and struck out 10 times.
“The middle of the game we actually did create a lot of momentum and obviously the game was too far out of reach at that point,” Arizona coach Caitlin Lowe said. “I saw a fire within them in the middle that we need to start with, and we needed to have throughout the game.”
Arizona (21-8, 4-3) suffered its worst loss to Arizona State since 1984.
“It’s a game of adjustments and if we don’t adjust that’s what’s going to happen,” Jenna Sniffen said after going 1 for 3. “We have a tough team this year, a really gritty team. Day two is just a day of making a statement and day three is coming to close it out.”
Arizona State came out with searing bats getting to Rylie Holder with two quick home runs — a solo home run by Kaylee Pond and a three-run shot by former Arizona catcher Emily Schepp.
Arizona went 1-2-3 before the Sun Devils put up another four-spot off Katie Chester’s bat with a grand slam that scored Salpointe alum Yannixa Acuna, Pond and Mejia.
The big inning prompted a change in the circle, bringing in Jenae Berry.
It didn’t help much for Arizona as Berry gave up four hits and three runs, getting pulled after only one out for Sarah Wright, who loaded the based before Arizona turned a double play to end the threat.
Wright continued into the fourth and so did ASU’s scoring, getting two runs across – the first scoring Swan on a fielder’s choice and followed by the second coming on a wild pitch that scored Schepp from third.
Arizona was finally able to get something going, starting with an infield single by Sydney Stewart followed by Grace Jenkins getting hit by a pitch and Sniffen getting a single to load the bases.
Kez Lucas was able to hit a bouncing double up the middle to score Stewart and Jenkins, before Duke hit a double to the left field wall to score Salpointe grad Molli Daley – pinch running for Sniffen – and Lucas coming in from second.
Kenzie Brown shut down the side after allowing four.
The Sun Devils came right back with Mejia, Swan, and Schepp hitting home runs – the latter back-to-back — leading to Holder being put back in the circle to finish the game
Schepp had seven home runs as a freshman at Arizona in 2024.
Arizona ended offensively only having one base runner on the path – Stewart – and striking out twice to finish the upset.
Game two of the series will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at Hillenbrand Stadium.
“I think it woke up some people and a loss like this can be really good for you if you use it appropriately,” Lowe said. “If we use it it’s going to be the best thing that ever happened to use, and if we don’t then we’re going to wake up and do the same thing tomorrow.”
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