TEMPE, Ariz. – When you win a collegiate softball game by way of mercy rule, the topic of discussion is usually about the offensive production showcased by the winning team. However, things were a bit different after Arizona State softball mercy-ruled UTEP.

After the Sun Devils (30-11) routed the Miners (11-24) 13-0 on Tuesday, April 7, graduate pitcher Kenzie Brown received her golden ticket from the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), signifying that she has been drafted by one of the six teams in the league. Brown said she didn’t know it was happening and didn’t hear the announcement until everyone started looking at her.

“It’s a dream come true,” Brown said. “It’s just amazing to see all that hard work pay off.”

ESPN’s Holly Rowe surprised Brown with the award, calling  Brown resilient, loyal, productive and professional, stating that she has all the tools the AUSL is looking for.

“She comes in already with a very polished product,” Rowe said. “She’s got the stamina. She’s got the resilience, and I think they're really lucky to get her.”

Brown was surrounded by her family to celebrate the moment and was even the victim of a Gatorade shower from her teammates. The pitcher said that above all, she was most happy about her dad being in attendance to witness the special moment.

“Of all people, my dad’s been through the wringer with me,” Brown said. “Whenever things weren’t going my way. He’s been through every season with me, so to have that pay off for not only me, but him, that was an amazing moment.” 

Head coach Megan Bartlett had high praise for her starting pitcher and said that Brown is a special human being.

“She has been our hardest worker,” Bartlett said. “The amount of sacrifice that kid has exuded to get this program back to where it is.

“I’d keep her for 20 years if I could.” 

In relation to the game that preceded the post-game celebrations, ASU showcased its ability to make meaningful contact with its swings, boasting an offense that, heading into its matchup, was ninth in the nation in RBI’s with 280 and 47th in the nation in doubles with 67. When UTEP rolled into Tempe, the Sun Devils backed up those hitting statistics in a 13-0 mercy-rule win.

ASU’s offense hit five doubles with 12 of its 13 runs coming via an RBI hit. Bartlett said that after a series loss to Kansas and back-to-back losses to the Jayhawks, momentum is always welcome.

“Confidence and belief,” Bartlett said. “We talked about that in the pregame that this is a really dangerous ball club.” 

ASU showcased its ability, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning, followed up by four in the second.

After not playing since Feb. 27, senior outfielder Tanya Windle returned from a 21-game absence, batting in the lead-off spot for the Sun Devils. Windle opened the game for ASU with a lead-off double, and Bartlett said that having her back in the lineup is better leadership and consistency injected into the team.

“The reality is we have a lot of power hitters in that lineup, and we don’t have a lot of … contact, speed kids,” Bartlett said. “She can get on base, she can rip bags and she’s going to be able to push defenses.”

On the flip side of the game, Brown started for the Sun Devils and had a productive outing. Heading into the game against the Miners, Brown ranked 15th in the nation in strikeouts and increased her total to 142 with five strikeouts across three innings of work Tuesday.

Despite not allowing a hit, Brown was pulled before the top of the fourth inning with ASU leading 10-0.

Brown said that even though she has already been drafted, the focus is still on the season ahead.

“I would give everything I have left to this program,” Brown said. “I’m excited for this summer, but the Sun Devils are my priority.”

On a day like this, you can’t help but think about the road that got you to this moment. For Brown, it was no different as she said that this accomplishment was something she had only dreamed of and said that she would tell her younger self not to sell herself short.

“I never thought that I could play on a stage this big and become an All-American last year,” Brown said. “That was just something that I always dreamed of but never knew that I could actually achieve.”