Mejia is the sole member of the 2020 senior class who will not return next year.
"I'm thankful and grateful that I got the opportunity to play at one of the highest levels at one of the top schools," Mejia said. "I played for Coach Ford; she definitely pushed me to become a player that I never thought I could be. Like I said, I'm forever grateful for that. The memories, the crazy games, and all of the friendships that I've made during this year, I'm just thankful for all that."
Mejia plans to finish her degree at ASU and hopes to continue as a Sun Devil through nursing school.
"Going into my senior season, I understood that I was going to be done playing softball this year, I had already wrapped my mind around that. I'm excited to keep working toward my career and dream of being a nurse," Mejia explained.
Mejia pitched for two years at ASU after transferring from Fresno State and finished her career with 41 starts and 96 appearances on the mound. Her career includes 314.2 innings pitched – 167.1 as a Sun Devil and 1,461 batters faced. Mejia's career ERA stands at 3.92 and she boasts 231 career strikeouts and rarely allowed a triple – only five opponents completed the feat with Mejia on the mound in her four-year career.
"Sam came in mid-year last year and hit the ground running," head coach Trisha Ford said. "She had a great career at Arizona State, and we are so thankful that she donned the maroon and gold."
Before the 2020 season was shortened, Mejia's final year was on track to be one of her best yet. The right-hander's last six games in maroon and gold had zero earned runs, two shutouts, three wins, and 23 strikeouts. She notched a 2.33 ERA with a 5-1 record and 52 strikeouts in 12 appearances in her final season. Only ten opponents walked against Mejia in 2020 - a team-low among pitchers with at least ten appearances. Mejia also led the team with only 13 earned runs and 30 hits - the lowest of all returning pitchers.
Through the 2020 season, she led the team with an average 9.33 strikeouts per game while setting the bar for the Sun Devils by holding opponents to a .176 batting average with runners on base.
"Sam finished this season on a really high note, and I couldn't be more proud of all her growth and accomplishments," Ford continued.
Sam's final 6?? games were lights out ??
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) April 5, 2020
0 ER, 2 shutouts, 3 wins, 23 strikeouts pic.twitter.com/j1nxtOHFUP
As a third of ASU's experienced 2020 pitching staff, which included fellow senior Cielo Meza and junior Madison Preston, Mejia helped the team throw for an improved combined 2.24 ERA in non-conference. Through 2019 non-conference play, the pitching staff - which included Meza and Mejia - threw for a 3.50 mark.
In 2019, Mejia achieved several career-highs, including 23 starts, 35 appearances, 16 wins, 95 strikeouts, and 128.1 innings pitched. Her performance in the circle helped ASU to its 15th consecutive postseason appearance in 2019.
Mejia, a two-year starter for Fresno State, made a splash in her first season of collegiate softball in 2017, where she made 18 appearances in the circle for the Bulldogs. She made a name for herself as a proficient relief pitcher, throwing a season-high five strikeouts in a four-inning relief appearance in the NCAA Seattle Regional elimination game against Michigan. In her first season with Fresno State, Mejia netted a 4.22 ERA with 24 strikeouts in her 56.1 innings of work.
The talented right-hander made significant strides during her sophomore campaign, improving her ERA and almost doubling her innings of work. Mejia did not allow a run during her first 18 conference innings pitched in relief and carried a 3-0 record, and a 0.93 ERA with just three earned runs allowed in 22.2 innings as a reliever in league games all season.
Mejia's four fellow seniors: All-American Kindra Hackbarth, 2020 home run leader Maddi Hackbarth, pitcher Cielo Meza, and designated player with a knack for walk-offs, Alli Tatnall, announced their intent to return for another season.
Reminisce on all the big moments and achievements in 2020 with the Season Recap.