Sun Devil Softball Bats Erupt in Littlewood Invitational Sweep
TEMPE - There’s hot, and then there’s whatever Arizona State softball brought to the diamond on Saturday. Head coach Megan Bartlett’s squad didn’t just heat up - they scorched the stat sheet, piling up 29 runs across two games in the Littlewood Invitational. If the rest of the weekend is anything like this, the warning signs are clear: do not let this lineup get rolling.
The Sun Devils opened the day with a dominant 20-2 run-rule win over Portland State in five innings, then followed it up with a gritty 9-6 victory over Pacific, surviving a late rally to close out the doubleheader sweep.
Offensive Fireworks Early and Often
Let’s start with the opener. ASU wasted no time turning Farrington Stadium into a launchpad.
After a quiet first inning, the Sun Devils exploded for 11 runs in the bottom of the second - a dizzying mix of seven hits, one error, and 14 batters stepping up to the plate. That inning alone would’ve been enough to win most games.
But they weren’t done.
ASU followed it up with a seven-run third, sending 12 more to the plate. By the time the fourth rolled around, Brooke Piwowar and Corie Shull added run-scoring doubles to push the total to 20 - the most runs scored in a single game under Bartlett’s tenure.
It was an offensive avalanche. In just five innings, 16 different Sun Devils recorded a plate appearance.
Eleven of them picked up hits. Freshman Brooke Piwowar notched her first career base hit and RBI in the third, driving in Ashleigh Mejia with a single to right.
That kind of depth - production from top to bottom - is what separates good teams from dangerous ones.
And for those keeping score at home, those 20 runs were the most scored at Farrington since ASU’s 21-0 win over GCU back in April 2021.
Game Two: Grit Meets Power
The nightcap against Pacific had a different tone - less of a blowout, more of a battle. But the Sun Devils still found a way to flex their muscle when it mattered.
Ryan Brown and JazMarie Roberts got things rolling in the second inning, both scoring on a Brooklyn Ulrich single to left-center. After Pacific answered with a two-run third, ASU broke the game open with a massive seven-run sixth inning. Ashleigh Mejia bookended the rally with a pair of doubles, and Katie Chester delivered the knockout blow - a pinch-hit, two-run homer that sent the dugout into a frenzy.
That late offensive surge turned out to be crucial. Pacific made things interesting in the seventh, plating four two-out runs to cut the lead to three. But with the tying run still in the on-deck circle, Aissa Silva (now 4-0 on the season) slammed the door, striking out Jayleen Scott on three pitches to secure the win.
“Respect the Game, Clean It Up”
Head coach Megan Bartlett was pleased with the offensive output but knows there’s work to be done on the defensive side.
“Man, what a day it was,” Bartlett said postgame. “The bats were outstanding in the opening game… but tonight, we got a little bit messy on defense.
Thankfully, the bats had already done their thing at that point. We just have to make sure we show up in the morning, respect the game the right way, clean it up on defense and take care of business.”
Mejia’s Breakthrough Night
Sophomore outfielder Ashleigh Mejia was a standout in the second game, collecting three hits and setting the tone in that pivotal sixth inning. For her, it wasn’t just about the numbers - it was about trusting the process.
“My night was very exciting,” Mejia said. “I think the most important thing that happened tonight was just remembering to have fun and be relaxed at the plate.
I didn’t start out as strong as I wanted to, but I just trusted in the plan. Coach talks a lot about continuing to swing and not putting so much pressure on yourself - it’s going to happen for you.
So, I think tonight really was my breakthrough.”
She now joins Emily Schepp and JazMarie Roberts as the only Sun Devils with three-hit games this season.
More Notable Performances
- Mary Peyton Hodge, a freshman lefty from North Carolina, made her ASU debut with a scoreless fifth inning to close out the Portland State win. She then earned her first collegiate start in the nightcap against Pacific - a big day for the young pitcher.
- Kaylee Pond extended her on-base streak to 10 straight games with a two-out walk during the sixth inning against Pacific.
The first-year Sun Devil has now reached base in every game this season - a model of consistency at the top of the lineup.
Arizona State’s bats are loud, the energy is high, and the depth is showing early in the season. If this weekend is any indication, the Sun Devils are shaping up to be a nightmare matchup for opposing pitching staffs.
The challenge now? Keep the momentum rolling, tighten up the defense, and continue building on what’s already looking like a potent 2026 campaign.