TEMPE, Ariz – Players with K-letter first names proved the difference for Arizona State softball on Saturday. 

The players in question: senior pitcher Kenzie Brown, senior outfielder Kaylee Pond and junior infielder Katie Chester. 

After an 8-9 loss on Friday afternoon, ASU (12-2) mercied Michigan Softball (11-3) 8-0 in six innings on Saturday, Feb. 21, afternoon. The Sun Devils started out hot, taking an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a three-run homer from Pond. On the other side of the field, the defense played a major factor in the win, holding Michigan scoreless.  

After a shaky outing on Friday, Brown’s bounce-back performance against a strong Michigan offense made the difference. 

Furthermore, Brown got some help from the Sun Devil defense, which did not commit a single error all game. 

Despite struggles with control, allowing five walks, Brown reverted to her stellar form, striking out nine and allowing two hits in a complete game. She also pitched her third shutout of the year in just six starts. 

Brown did especially well against Michigan star sophomore outfielder Lauren Putz. 

Putz has posted 10 home runs on the year so far with an impressive 1.361 slugging percentage, putting her near the top of NCAA softball stat sheets. 

Brown’s battle with Putz was pretty even, which speaks to Brown’s strength on the mound.  

Brown contained Putz to no hits and added a strikeout in the fifth inning — yet she surrendered a walk to Putz in both the first and the third inning. 

On the offensive side, Pond went 1-for-3 on Saturday, with her biggest hit being that three-run home run in the first. This home run gave ASU the quick start and a lead it did not give up. 

Pond added to her already impressive resume with her fifth homer and 16th RBI for the fresh season. 

Outside of the long ball, Pond reached base on an error in the third inning and smoked a fly ball that nearly left the yard in the fifth. 

As for the last of the K first names, Chester added some insurance for the Sun Devils in the bottom of the fourth inning with a homer of her own. This was her fourth homer of the year and team-leading 17th RBI. 

Additionally, Chester produced her seventh walk of the year in the sixth before senior outfielder Yannixa Acuna scored two on a single, tying the knot on the win. 

For the rest of the team, senior infielder Brooklyn Ulrich got in on the long ball fun in the bottom of the sixth with her first homer as a Sun Devil, making the score 5-0 at the time. 

The leadoff hitter, senior outfielder Tanya Windle, also added an RBI, putting ASU up six runs just before Acuna’s dagger. 

The Sun Devil offense came alive in the bottom of the sixth, producing four runs on five hits. In addition, the big fly led to five of the eight runs for ASU. 

The Sun Devils scored eight runs in both games against Michigan, the difference being the defense. 

As the old saying goes, defense wins championships. Of course, it’s still the regular season for the Sun Devils, but the hopes to compete for another championship are very much alive. 

Especially with an all-around performance like Saturday.