No. 5 Texas Tech (47-4, 19-2 Big 12) defeated the Sun Devils (35-16, 8-13 Big 12) 7-1 at Farrington Stadium on Sunday, April 26, to complete the sweep and clinch the outright Big 12 regular season championship. 

Senior right-handed pitcher NiJaree Canady pitched a gem, allowing only one run over five innings, while a collection of Red Raiders hitters gave her plenty of run support.

ASU head coach Megan Bartlett praised the Texas Tech lineup and its prowess. 

“That’s a lot of All-Americans and All-Region hitters in one lineup,” Bartlett said. “It was a little bit too much to overcome today.”

The numbers back up Bartlett’s claims, as the Red Raiders boast the second-highest team batting average in the nation.

Additionally, Texas Tech thrives on the mound as well, with the Red Raiders currently holding the fourth-lowest team ERA in DI softball.

Texas Tech is coming off its first trip to the Women’s College World Series, where it made a run all the way to the championship series before losing to in-state rival Texas.

This series marks the first time ASU found itself on the losing end of a sweep since its first Big 12 series against Utah on March 6-8.

Canady, the reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-American, shut down the Sun Devils lineup. After surrendering three runs in Game 1 of the series, Canady allowed only three hits and one unearned run.

Bartlett called Canady a fierce competitor.

“She’s running it in the 70s,” Bartlett said. “Great upball, great curveball, she has an outstanding changeup.”

Canady pitched five innings before sophomore left-hander Samantha Lincoln spun two scoreless frames to close the game.

At the dish, the Red Raiders offense gave Canady and Lincoln plenty of run support, recording 10 hits with two home runs.

Junior second baseman Mia Williams led the way at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with 2 RBI.

Williams also made a great defensive play in the bottom of the fourth, making a diving stop before tapping the ball over to first base to take a hit away from senior left fielder Yazzy Avila.

Alongside Williams, senior center fielder Mihyia Davis and junior designated player Jasmyn Burns each tallied two hits of their own.

Senior left-handed pitcher Aissa Silva started in the circle for ASU but never found a groove, allowing five runs in six innings of work.

Despite the undesirable statistics, Silva’s performance against such a potent lineup impressed Bartlett.

“I thought she was using both sides of the plate well, the offspeed was working today,” Bartlett said. “They got a couple balls just out, and that’s millimeters on the bat.”

Bartlett emphasized the need for more run support to beat an elite opponent.

“The reality is we were going to have to hit for her,” Bartlett said. “You’re not beating Tech with one run.”

All in all, the Sun Devils totaled four hits on Sunday, with senior designated player Tanya Windle and junior third baseman Emily Schepp both responsible for two hits each.

Schepp’s success made her the only ASU player to record a hit in all three games against Texas Tech over the weekend.

With a national championship contender in the house, Farrington Stadium saw sellout crowds in all three games, the first time ASU sold out three consecutive games since 2023.

Even though the Sun Devils went winless in the series, Bartlett still valued the home atmosphere created by the ASU faithful.

“We have the best fans in the country and the most gorgeous ballpark to play it in,” Bartlett said.

Now, the Sun Devils will travel to Provo, Utah to take on BYU in the final regular season series of 2026. 

With postseason play coming up, Bartlett hopes to see her team gain momentum down the stretch.

“The great teams in the postseason have a little momentum on their side,” Bartlett said. “When we get momentum, we’ve got to find a way to keep it rolling into the next game and make good on opportunities.”