Sun Devils secure Sunday win thanks to the long ball

(Photo credit: Elizabeth Agazaryan/WCSN)

TEMPE — As Arizona State freshman outfielder Ashleigh Mejia rounded the bases after a three-run home run, the energy at Alberta B. Farrington Field was completely flipped on its head.

With Arizona State squaring off against Utah Valley in the finale of the Littlewood Classic, the Sun Devils weekend looked to be ending on a sour note. The Wolverines put up three runs in the second inning, jumping out to a 3-0 lead.

As the game continued, the ASU offense fell completely silent, only mustering two hits through the first five innings of action.

However, there seemed to be life in the Sun Devils’ lineup in the bottom of the sixth. A lead-off single followed by a walk looked to be the best opportunity ASU would have to mount a comeback with little time remaining.

That comeback attempt seemed to be thwarted by Utah Valley’s sophomore pitcher Avery Sapp. Sapp looked like she was going to be able to escape the jam unscathed, however, she induced a couple of harmless infield pop-ups to bring Mejia up to bat with two on and two out.

Mejia stepped up to the dish and crushed a ball over the right-center fence, tying the game up in the sixth. There was a different kind of feeling in the stadium after Mejia rounded the bases.

“It really moved the momentum and got us up,” Mejia said. “We had flat energy the whole game and were trying to find something to get us up.”

Sapp, after such a great performance to that point, tried to rebound but ASU freshman catcher Lillian Holtje followed up Mejia’s bomb with one of her own. This time, Holtje turned on an inside pitch and sent it way over the left field fence just staying fair and powering ASU to a 4-3 lead.

After such a demoralizing five innings for the Sun Devils, the sudden offensive outburst was sudden and shocking. With new life, ASU was just three outs away from closing the tournament with a victory.

In the seventh Utah Valley wasn’t able to rally, thanks to the Sun Devils’ best pitcher so far this season. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Meika Lauppe closed the door and finished off the Sun Devils’ seventh win of the season and fourth of the Littlewood classic.

“It gives us great momentum,” Mejia said. “Telling teams that they can’t come in and stomp on us, especially on our turf.

Though the ASU offense was quiet for the majority of the contest against Utah Valley, eventually they heated up. ASU will look to keep their bats working as they head to Grand Canyon on Tuesday, then will host the Sun Devil Classic starting on Friday.

After a great start to the season and a nice showing in the Littlewood Classic, the Sun Devils will have plenty more opportunities in the early going to prove they belong in the top tier of the Big 12 Conference standings.