Sun Devil bats go silent against Kansas

(Photo credit: Madison Sorenson/WCSN)

TEMPE — On Friday night, Arizona State softball held the Kansas Jayhawks to four hits while racking up over 10 hits, but on Saturday, the Jayhawks flipped the script.

The Sun Devils (25-14, 7-7 Big 12 Conference) could not find their swings on Saturday and were only able to earn four base hits on the night.

“[Kansas senior right-handed pitcher Olivia Bruno] did a good job today,” head coach Megan Bartlett said. “That kid’s got a 2.26 ERA. She is certainly not chump change.”

Bruno threw a complete game for the Jayhawks (17-16, 4-7 Big 12), going six innings, striking out four batters and allowing four hits. ASU fell to Kansas 8-0 in six innings of play.

It was the second time in three games that the Sun Devil offense was shut out, as they fell 4-0 to Oklahoma State on Wednesday night.

Freshman outfielder Ashleigh Mejia had the first hit of the game for the Sun Devils in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman infielder Tiare Ho-Ching, senior utility player AJ Murphy and graduate outfielder Kelsey Hall all got hits in the game as well.

“[Bruno’s] changeup is pretty good,” Bartlett said. “We just got to do a better job of capitalizing on mistakes, getting on time and driving the ball. It’s not rocket science, it’s pretty simple.”

While the Jayhawks had stability on the mound, the same can not be said for ASU.

Sophomore righty Meika Lauppe got the start in the circle for the Sun Devils, and threw four innings, allowing four hits and not giving up an earned run.

Lauppe was pulled at the start of the fifth inning and was replaced by freshman right-handed pitcher Julianne Tipton. Once Tipton entered the circle, things went south for ASU.

Tipton allowed four runs on four hits and only managed to get one out in the circle. The biggest hit that Tipton allowed was a three-run home run from sophomore utility player Anna Soles to break the game wide open.

With the score being 5-0, the Sun Devils turned to freshman right-handed pitcher Cambree Creager for the final inning and two-thirds of the game.

Creager immediately allowed a solo shot to sophomore infielder September Flanagan and later in the inning gave up an RBI double to junior infielder Emma Tatum.

Tipton and Creager combined gave up seven earned runs and nine hits in two innings.

“That is absolutely unacceptable,” Bartlett said. “I’m not happy, really, outside of Meika in any facet tonight.”

The Sun Devils rank third in team hits and second in team strikeouts in the Big 12 this season, but simply could not find either of them against the Jayhawks on Saturday night.

ASU currently sits sixth in the Big 12 conference standings and will have to do some heavy lifting in order to climb back up the rankings.

The Sun Devils and Jaywhawks will take the field Sunday for the deciding game. For ASU to take the series, they’ll need to find some production on offense.

“They’ve been asked to do some self-reflection,” Bartlett said. “They still have the opportunity to come back and win a series in the morning.