Arizona State senior right-handed pitcher Kenzie Brown had just reentered the game when the first batter she faced, Arizona senior catcher Sydney Stewart, sent a ball over the wall to take a 6-4 lead.

Stewart's home run turned out to be the game-winner, as the Wildcats clinched a series victory.

ASU (23-9, 3-6 Big 12) fell 6-4 to No. 12 Arizona (23-8, 6-3 Big 12) and dropped the series on Sunday, March 22, at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson. After winning the opener on Friday, the Sun Devils dropped back-to-back games.

The Wildcats got the scoring started in the first inning on an RBI single from senior right fielder Grace Jenkins. They tacked on two more in the third inning and one in the fourth to extend the lead to 4-0. 

Arizona maintained its lead for the better part of the game with senior pitcher Jalen Adams dealing in the circle. The Wildcats had given up 24 runs over the last two games, so this marked a major improvement. 

Adams pitched a shutout through five innings, but the Sun Devils broke through in the sixth.

In the top of the sixth, ASU forced Adams out of the game with back-to-back singles from sophomore right fielder Ashleigh Mejia and junior first baseman Katie Chester. 

Into the game came Arizona freshman pitcher Rylie Holder, who instantly gave up a run-scoring double to ASU junior catcher Samantha Swan. 

Junior designated player Emily Schepp drove home another run, cutting the lead to 4-2. 

With the Sun Devils in a hole, junior infielder Ryan Brown pinch-hit and doubled to center field to bring home Schepp and Swan, tying the game at 4-4.

Once again, the Wildcats allowed ASU to come from behind, and they needed some late-inning magic again to come out with the victory.

After Arizona senior shortstop Tayler Biehl opened the inning with a single, Brown reentered the game and took over in the circle for the Sun Devils.

Stewart then came to the plate and blasted the go-ahead home run.

Now down 6-4 in the seventh inning, ASU needed some late-inning offense of its own to avoid the series loss. After a leadoff double from senior center fielder Kaylee Pond, the Sun Devils couldn’t keep the offense going and fell to a 6-4 defeat.

With Sunday's win, Arizona clinched the Territorial Cup in 2026, as this weekend marked the only time the two teams meet this year. 

Looking ahead, Arizona hosts GCU in its next matchup, while ASU travels across the country to Raleigh, North Carolina, to face NC State.