Sun Devils hope to improve nonconference success on Tuesday

(Photo credit: Zina Garcia/WCSN)

Arizona State softball will look to continue its nonconference success on Tuesday with a midweek matchup against UNLV.

The Sun Devils (21-8, 4-2 Big 12) are set to take on the Rebels (16-11, 1-2 Mountain West) at Farrington Stadium for their Green Game & St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

For ASU to be successful, it will likely need to shut down key parts of the UNLV lineup. Senior infielder Ariana Martinez leads the Rebels in six offensive stat categories, including OPS, hits and home runs. Senior infielder Karmyna Becerra and sophomore catcher Jesse Farrell tie Martinez with 21 runs, the most on the team. Becerra and Farrell have been keeping up with Martinez in the batting order. They each have a .412 on-base percentage, a slugging percentage north of .500 and bat over .300.

Although limiting that third of the UNLV lineup will be difficult, the Sun Devils have the pitching to succeed on Tuesday. Senior right-hander Kenzie Brown threw for two complete games in ASU’s latest series against then-No. 21 UCF. Between the two games on Friday and Sunday, Brown threw for 14.0 innings, allowing nine hits, zero earned runs and three walks, all while recording 19 strikeouts.

Brown got some run support in game one thanks to freshman outfielder Ashleigh Mejia. Mejia ended a pitching duel in the fifth inning with her sixth homer of the year, pushing ASU to the 3-0 win. In game three of the series, graduate outfielder Kelsey Hall knocked what ended up being the game-winning two-RBI single in the fourth inning. The hit marked her 33rd and 34th RBIs of the season, which leads the team in the category. Hall is also the team leader in batting average, OPS, home runs, and slugging and on-base percentage.

If Mejia and Hall can carry their momentum from the UCF series, along with getting support from the remainder of the Sun Devil batting order, the Sun Devils may not need to rely on stellar pitching to earn the win on Tuesday.

The ASU offense has shown it has the potential to lead the way Tuesday facing some questionable UNLV pitching. Rebels junior right-hander Amelia Weber has been able to contain opposing batters, as shown by her .246 opponent batting average. However, she has only recorded 39 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched. With ASU having less than 100 total strikeouts on the year, the Sun Devils have proved their ability to put the ball in play.

Freshman right-hander Yanina Sherwood has the most appearances and starts for the Rebels. However, she has not been the most reliable for UNLV, giving up 46 earned runs in just over 82 innings. The UNLV rotation has a team earned run average of 3.88, which is not helped by freshman right-hander Jazmine Chavez’s 5.04 ERA.

Even with talent on both teams’ rosters, ASU can take home a win by getting its offense out to an early start and not forcing its pitching rotation to carry the brunt of the load. Even if the Sun Devils are unsuccessful at the plate, they have the circle that can carry a win if a pitcher’s duel is needed.