DELAND, Fla. – Sun Devil Softball began its five-game trip to Florida by sweeping a doubleheader against Stetson on Wednesday at Patrica Wilson Stadium. Arizona State took the first game 5-2 before claiming the nightcap 14-5 in five innings.
Tiare Ho-Ching got the day off with a bang by hitting a home run leading off the first game. ASU extended its lead to 3-0 in the second when Samantha Swan scored on a wild pitch, and Kelsey Hall picked up an RBI single.
Stetson got two runs in the bottom of the third, but Ho-Ching and Hall recorded RBIs in the top of the fourth to quickly get the runs back for the Sun Devils.
Julianne Tipton worked the first three innings in the circle before departing. Meika Lauppe entered and allowed just one single while striking out six to secure her fifth win of the season.
The ASU offense erupted for eight runs in the first inning of game two. They sent 12 batters to the plate, using five singles, a double, two walks, and a hit by pitch to build the lead. Ho-Ching had two hits and scored two runs in the frame.
As Stetson tried to chip away, Ayden Allen picked up two RBIs with a sacrifice fly in the second and a double off the top of the wall in the fourth. It was 10-5 in the fifth after a Ho-Ching sacrifice fly and then Hall homered to center to give her five RBIs in the game.
Tipton notched the win in the circle, allowing one run and one hit in 1.1 innings. Lauppe closed out the night with one hit allowed over 1.2 scoreless innings.
Notable
The Sun Devils return to Big 12 play on Friday when they begin a three-game series with UCF at 3 p.m. AZT.
Tiare Ho-Ching got the day off with a bang by hitting a home run leading off the first game. ASU extended its lead to 3-0 in the second when Samantha Swan scored on a wild pitch, and Kelsey Hall picked up an RBI single.
Stetson got two runs in the bottom of the third, but Ho-Ching and Hall recorded RBIs in the top of the fourth to quickly get the runs back for the Sun Devils.
Julianne Tipton worked the first three innings in the circle before departing. Meika Lauppe entered and allowed just one single while striking out six to secure her fifth win of the season.
The ASU offense erupted for eight runs in the first inning of game two. They sent 12 batters to the plate, using five singles, a double, two walks, and a hit by pitch to build the lead. Ho-Ching had two hits and scored two runs in the frame.
As Stetson tried to chip away, Ayden Allen picked up two RBIs with a sacrifice fly in the second and a double off the top of the wall in the fourth. It was 10-5 in the fifth after a Ho-Ching sacrifice fly and then Hall homered to center to give her five RBIs in the game.
Tipton notched the win in the circle, allowing one run and one hit in 1.1 innings. Lauppe closed out the night with one hit allowed over 1.2 scoreless innings.
Notable
- The doubleheader sweep was the first by the Sun Devils since winning twice against Iowa State on Feb. 25, 2023.
- The leadoff homer from Ho-Ching in game one was the second time this season that ASU's first batter of the game went yard. Tanya Windle also homered leading off the season opener versus Maryland.
- Lauppe's six strikeouts in game one are her most since she had eight against Weber State on Feb. 14.
- The 8-run first inning was the third inning this season ASU had scored eight or more, and it was the second time they scored eight times in the first inning. (Portland State, Feb. 22)
- Hall finished the two games with seven RBIs, and she is the first Sun Devil since 2023 with five in one game.
- Windle was 4-for-4 in game two with a double and a triple. She also had two hits in the first game to give her eight multi-hit games during her 11-game hitting streak.
- Windle's 11-game hitting streak is the longest by a Sun Devil this season.
The Sun Devils return to Big 12 play on Friday when they begin a three-game series with UCF at 3 p.m. AZT.