Sun Devil Softball Rallies Twice for Thrilling Doubleheader Sweep to Open Littlewood Invitational
TEMPE - Arizona State softball didn’t just open the Littlewood Invitational with two wins - they made sure fans at Farrington Stadium got a full dose of drama, resilience, and a little bit of magic. Literally.
The Sun Devils (6-1) came from behind in both games Thursday, using explosive sixth-inning rallies to take down Portland State, 11-5, and Indiana, 7-6, in a doubleheader that reminded everyone why this team is dangerous late in games.
Let’s break it down.
Game 1: Late-Inning Fireworks Fuel Win Over Portland State
Tied 5-5 heading into the bottom of the fourth against Portland State (2-5), Arizona State turned to a familiar face in a clutch spot. Katie Chester, who already had a walk-off hit under her belt from last weekend’s Kajikawa Classic, delivered again - this time ripping a two-out single to center to score Brooke Piwowar from second and give the Sun Devils a narrow lead.
But the real damage came two innings later.
Millie Roberts set the tone in the bottom of the sixth with a five-pitch walk. That brought up Tanya Windle, who didn’t wait long to make an impact.
Windle launched a two-run homer down the right field line, flipping the game’s momentum in a hurry. ASU wasn’t done.
Avery Motroni added to the tally with an infield single that plated Emily Schepp, and Kaylee Pond capped the five-run frame with a no-doubt, two-run blast. Five runs, five hits, and a statement inning that showed just how quickly this offense can heat up.
Game 2: A Rabbit, a Rally, and a Resilient Finish Against Indiana
The nightcap against Indiana (4-2) had all the makings of a gritty, come-from-behind classic - and then it got a little weird.
Before the bottom of the fifth, play was delayed when a rabbit made an unscheduled appearance, sprinting from left field, darting along the foul line, and eventually disappearing under a gate near right field. Fans dubbed it the “Rally Rabbit,” and, well, the timing couldn’t have been better.
Trailing 3-0 after Indiana built a lead with a two-run infield single from Ellie Goins and a groundout RBI by Avery Parker, ASU needed a spark. They got it.
Taylor Hess, back in the circle for the Hoosiers, hit Yazzy Avila to start the inning. A walk to Schepp followed.
After both runners advanced on a passed ball, Chester grounded out to bring in Avila. Then came the big swing: Kaylee Pond stepped in with two outs and crushed a 1-2 pitch over the left-center fence for a three-run homer, giving ASU its first lead of the game.
Indiana wasn’t done, though. Goins struck again in the top of the sixth with a two-run homer to briefly reclaim the lead. But Emily Schepp had an answer.
With two outs and two runners on in the bottom half, Schepp stepped in against Hess - who had just re-entered the game - and delivered a three-run bomb of her own. It was a no-doubt shot that put ASU back in front, this time for good.
Kenzie Brown (2-1) made sure of it. Despite giving up a solo homer to Parker in the seventh, the right-hander locked in and struck out the final two batters to close out the game. Brown finished with 14 strikeouts - her third straight home start with double-digit Ks.
From the Dugout: Coach Bartlett on Grit and Growth
Head coach Megan Bartlett didn’t sugarcoat it - these weren’t the cleanest wins, but they were team wins. And that’s what matters in February.
“Our pitching staff is normally lights out, but they got into a little bit of trouble today,” Bartlett said. “The defense and hitters picked them up, and that’s what good teams do.”
She also gave a nod to Indiana as a quality opponent that’s likely to make noise in the postseason, and credited her staff for helping the team stay composed when things got chaotic.
“It’s not always going to go to plan,” Bartlett added. “But tonight, everyone pulled the rope together.”
What’s Next
With the opening doubleheader in the books, Arizona State looks to keep the momentum rolling Friday night against Nevada (3-2). First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. MST at Farrington Stadium.
If Thursday was any indication, you’ll want to keep your eyes on the field - and maybe the foul lines, too. You never know when a Rally Rabbit might show up.