ASU softball is off to a 7-4 start, taking down three ranked teams in the first two weekends. A big part of the team's early success is its large freshman class, with seven freshmen shining early in the season.
Pitcher Cambree Creager started the home opener against Maryland, giving up four hits and only one run through four innings, leading the Sun Devils to a 7-1 win over the Terrapins.
Infielder Tiare Ho-Ching started her season strong, hitting a home run and a double to earn four RBIs. Infielder Grace Molitor and outfielder Ashleigh Mejia also started in the home opener, marking the most freshmen to start a season opener since 2003.
ASU would finish the weekend 3-1, including a 6-4 win over No. 21 California. Catcher Lillian Holtje had the game-winning home run in her only at-bat that game.
Head coach Megan Bartlett had nothing but love for her freshman hitter after the game.
"That's why she came here, and then to see her just step up in such a big moment for her team, I'm just really excited," Bartlett said after the win via Sun Devil Athletics.
The following week, the Sun Devils hosted No. 21/20 ranked Oregon to start the Littlewood Classic. Creager started once again for ASU, giving up one earned run and three hits in three innings, but it was Ho-Ching who stole the show. She went 2-4 with a two-RBI double in the third and a walk-off single to win the game in eight innings for the Sun Devils.
"After my first game, honestly, my nerves have been a lot calmer. I want to be competitive, and I want to get at it," Ho-Ching said after the game via SDA.
Following the win, the Sun Devils would have some ups and downs. A 4-1 win over No. 25 Washington would highlight the rest of the tournament, while losses to North Dakota and Belmont stopped ASU from claiming the Littlewood Classic title.
In the final game against Utah Valley, however, the freshman class stepped up once again. Pitcher Julianne Tipton came in for Creager late in the second inning and delivered for the Sun Devils. Tipton gave up only one hit in 4.2 innings and earned the win from the circle.
"I would trust any pitcher on staff to come in, and I cannot wait to give them the ball and let them do well," Tipton said after the game. "That's what I was called to do today. It was a good showing, but that doesn't take away from the way that (Creager) threw at all."
From the plate, Mejia and Holtje stepped up in a big way late, delivering back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning to win the game for the Sun Devils.
"I want to push for my team, and having that grit is what gave me the success that I needed," Mejia said after the game.
With Ho-Ching and Molitor having started every game for ASU this season, the Sun Devil's future is looking bright. Both middle infielders are batting over 0.300 on the season and have sparked a culture that Bartlett is hoping to capitalize on for years to come.
"I think that amount of trust and love, to now see this come to fruition, we have the program back on track," Bartlett said via SDA. "It's making all the sleepless nights worth it."
Edited by Henry Smardo, Abigail Beck and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at aldeutsc@asu.edu and follow @AlanDeutschend3 on X.
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Alan is a sophomore studying sports journalism. This is his second semester with The State Press. He has also worked at Blaze Radio.
