05/09/26 02:21:00
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05/09 14:19 CDT Backed by 3 home runs, Kenzie Brown blanks Texas Tech to lead
Arizona State to Big 12 softball title
Backed by 3 home runs, Kenzie Brown blanks Texas Tech to lead Arizona State to
Big 12 softball title
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (AP) --- Kenzie Brown threw a two-hit shutout against one
of the nation's top offenses, three teammates hit home runs in the third
inning, and Arizona State claimed the Big 12 softball championship for the
first time with a 4-0 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday.
Tanya Windle, Emily Schepp and Katie Chester went deep for the Sun Devils in
the explosive third inning.
Windle's solo shot to right field staked Arizona State to a 1-0 lead. Two
batters later, Schepp went deep to left for a two-run home run and Chester
followed with a solo shot to left for a 4-0 lead.
Arizona State's four-run third inning marked the first runs scored against
Texas Tech in the past five games of the tournament, including the Red Raiders'
run to the 2025 championship.
Brown struck out nine, walked three and hit one batter for sixth-seeded and
25th-ranked Arizona State (41-16) against the top-seeded Red Raiders (52-6),
ranked No. 4. She improved to 15-6 with an ERA of 2.29.
For Texas Tech, NiJaree Canady allowed Windle's home run then was removed in
favor of Kaitlyn Terry, who gave up the home runs by Schepp and Chester.
Canady (22-5) returned to the circle and finished with a pitching line of 6 1/3
innings, five hits and one run allowed with nine strikeouts.
Terry allowed three unearned runs on four hits and recording only two outs.
Up next
As both teams anticipate bids to the NCAA Tournament, the Red Raiders and Sun
Devils look to add to past success. Arizona State is a two-time national
champion with 19 previous appearances in the Women's College World Series and
Texas Tech was runner-up in 2025, the Red Raiders' only appearance in the WCWS.
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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports
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