Houston softball scorched by No. 25 Arizona State, suffers third home sweep of 2026

Houston softball’s woes in Big 12 play continued at Cougar Softball Stadium, suffering another weekend sweep at the hands of No. 25 Arizona State over April 17-19.

The Cougars, now riding a six-game losing streak as a result, are 1-6 in weekend series this season, with five of those series losses dealt with via sweeps.

With its RPI sitting at 81 through the end of the weekend, Houston has been outscored 220-100 through 21 games in conference play, surrendering an average of 10.5 runs per contest.

Clutch seventh inning, Brown’s complete game helps Sun Devils take opener

With the scores tied at two apiece late, a go-ahead three-run seventh inning, with the help of senior pitcher Kenzie Brown’s complete game, secured the Sun Devils a 5-2 series-opening win on Friday. 

Houston got the scoring started in the bottom of the second thanks to senior designated player Kylei Griffin’s leadoff solo home run on a 2-2 pitch to center field.

Arizona State responded in the top of the third, where redshirt senior outfielder Kaylee Pond scored on a fielding error from sophomore outfielder Madox Mitchael. Two batters later, junior infielder Emily Schepp launched a go-ahead solo home run deep to center field, giving the Sun Devils a 2-1 lead.

Schepp went from hero to zero in the bottom of the sixth, however, committing a throwing error that allowed junior infielder Makenna Mitchell to tie the game 2-2.

But the Sun Devils’ clutch gene showed up in the top of the seventh with three runs. Pond began it with a go-ahead sacrifice fly, followed by an RBI double from junior catcher Samantha Swan and an RBI groundout from Schepp, giving them a 5-2 lead that ultimately held firm.

In Brown’s complete game, she struck out 12 batters while allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits towards earning her 11th win of the season.

For the Cougars, sophomore pitcher London Park received the loss to fall to 3-5. In 2 ⅓ innings, she allowed three earned runs on three hits.

Sun Devils run-rule Cougars on senior day

Senior day was a day to forget result-wise for Houston, as the Sun Devils trounced the Cougars 16-8 in a six-inning run rule to clinch the series in a game that featured seven home runs combined.

With three of those home runs, the 2026 Cougars are now second in program history for single-season home runs with 67, only five behind the 2008 team that hit 73.

The game started hot in the first inning as a whole with three home runs, but Arizona State provided that bulk with Swan’s three-run homer to center and junior infielder Katie Chester’s solo shot to left, which gave the Sun Devils the early 4-1 lead.

After an RBI single from Swan in the top of the second, the Cougars scored three runs between the second and third innings, capping it off with sophomore outfielder Ariel Redmond’s leadoff solo home run in the third to cut their deficit to 5-4.

Arizona State responded emphatically with four runs in the top of the fourth, featuring a triplet of RBI singles from Pond, Swan and redshirt senior infielder Brooklyn Ulrich. 

Houston answered back with four runs of its own in the bottom half, where Mitchell clubbed a two-run home run to deep center field to make it 9-6. Subsequently, Mitchael scored herself on a throwing error before senior infielder Mandy Esman added an RBI single, cutting the Sun Devils’ lead to one run.

But Arizona State took over in an instant and never relented, scoring seven unanswered through the fifth and sixth innings, including two more homers, to put the game to rest.

Junior pitcher Meika Lauppe got the win to improve her record to 10-3. In 4 ⅔ innings, she struck out three batters while allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits.

For the Cougars, sophomore pitcher Nevaeh Brown received the loss, falling to 9-11. In recording just one out, she allowed four earned runs on three hits including two home runs.

Arizona State wields brooms in run rule shutout finale

For the second consecutive game, Houston got run-ruled, being shut out 10-0 in a five-inning series finale Sunday. It has now lost via run rule eight times in Big 12 play in 2026.

The Cougars’ pitching and defense were overwhelmed, with the Sun Devils’ offense getting 11 hits on 25 at-bats, including three home runs. Meanwhile, Houston’s offense went out with a limp, mustering up just one hit in the entirety.

Brown put in another quality pitching performance for Arizona State, striking out seven batters and letting up Houston’s sole hit to earn her team-leading 12th win of the season.

For Houston, redshirt senior pitcher Paris Lehman received the loss to fall to 2-4. In her lone inning of work, she gave up three earned runs on three hits.

Now sitting at 20-28 overall with a 3-18 record in conference play, the Cougars’ chances of making the Big 12 tournament appear out of reach. They’ll look to return to winning ways on Tuesday, April 21 at 6 p.m., when they take on Sam Houston back at Cougar Softball Stadium.