(Photo credit: Madison Sorenson/WCSN)
For the final time this season, the Arizona State softball team (10-5) will host an invitational at Farrington Stadium. This coming weekend the Sun Devils will host the ASU Invitational, where they will be tasked with playing six games in only four days.
ASU takes on the Oregon State Beavers (6-8) to open the weekend Thursday night. The Sun Devils will be looking for revenge against its former Pac-12 Conference rival. A year ago, the Beavers took two of three games in the season series, but their roster has changed drastically.
In 2024, Oregon State’s offense was led by outfielder Eliana Gottlieb, infielder Grace Messemer and outfielder Paige Doerr. However, Gottlieb and Doerr both transferred, and Messemer graduated. Now the Beavers are led by junior outfielder Morgan Howey, sophomore outfielder and former Sun Devil Jada Lewis and freshman infielder Paige Bambarger. Those three players all have batting averages above .300 and lead the team in hits.
In the circle, Oregon State retained senior right-hander Ellie Garcia and graduate right-hander Logan Hulon. Last season, both Garcia and Hulon gave up five runs in six innings of work against ASU.
On Friday, the Sun Devils take on both the Seattle Redhawks (8-7) and the Yale Bulldogs (1-4). The Redhawks come into the weekend after a 3-2 performance at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in California, where they beat both Northwestern and Oregon State. Junior infielder Taylor Fitch leads Seattle’s offense, with a .353 batting average and four home runs through fifteen games. Senior right-handed pitcher Nicola Simpson leads the Redhawks from the circle, with a 1.71 ERA through 45 innings, which will be a test for ASU’s offense.
As for Yale, the Bulldogs will look to rebound following a difficult performance last weekend at UT Arlington’s invitational. Yale had a run differential of -23, but it had a bright spot via first-year outfielder Ella Cross. Cross went 7-for-15, notching two RBIs on the weekend.
After Friday’s doubleheader, the Sun Devils have another one on Saturday. There ASU will take on the UTEP Miners (9-5) in the opener, before taking on the Utah State Aggies (11-4) later that night. UTEP enters following an impressive display against the No. 14 Texas Tech Red Raiders. The offense struggled for the Miners, but senior right-hander Anisa Reynolds delivered ten innings, only giving up five total runs. Graduate right-hander Taja Felder has also been impressive for UTEP with a 2.86 ERA, meaning ASU’s bats will be tested in the Saturday opener.
After the offensive test against the Miners, the Sun Devils’ pitching staff will be tested by Utah State’s offense. In last weekend’s Utah Tech Tournament, the Aggies scored 62 runs in a five-game stretch, including a 21-run performance against Utah Tech. Utah State’s offense is led by senior infielder Ariel Fifita who has 25 hits in 52 at-bats, alongside five home runs.
ASU’s offense should be ready for a barnburner as the Aggies’ pitching has struggled recently. Despite its offense scoring 62 runs, Utah State gave up 42 runs last weekend, and has a 5.74 ERA on the season. Junior right-hander Rylie Pindel leads the Aggies with a 3.74 ERA and a 6-0 record, but the rest of the staff has a combined 7.03 ERA.
The Sun Devils will take on Oregon State once again Sunday to round out the ASU Invitational. Heading into this weekend, ASU has three wins against former Pac-12 schools, equalling its number from a full conference slate from last year.
For head coach Megan Bartlett, a good weekend will provide the Sun Devils with key momentum ahead of Big 12 Conference play starting next weekend.
