The red-hot Arizona State Sun Devils picked up right where they left off on Friday, May 15, after winning the Big 12 Tournament last weekend.

Carrying a six-game winning streak into the Bryan-College Station Regional, ASU made quick work of Southland champion McNeese on Friday, hitting five home runs and run-ruling the Cowgirls 8-0 in five innings at Davis Diamond.

After host school Texas A&M homered five times in its win over UConn, the Sun Devils showed similar power at the plate to move into the winners’ bracket and earned the right to face the Aggies.

Two of ASU’s long balls came off the bat of sophomore second baseman Tiare Ho-Ching, while junior right-handed pitcher Meika Lauppe tossed a complete game shutout, the second of her career.

The Sun Devils’ power surge started early, as senior center fielder Kaylee Pond and junior catcher Samantha Swan hit back-to-back home runs to give the Sun Devils an early 2-0 lead.

ASU didn’t stop there. Ho-Ching, who only had four home runs on the season entering Friday, homered twice in the win. She hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning and a solo homer in the fifth.

Additionally, sophomore right fielder Ashleigh Mejia launched a solo shot in the fifth.

Furthermore, junior first baseman Katie Chester, the Sun Devils’ home run leader, almost belted a homer of her own.

Chester hit a ball over the fence in the third inning, but McNeese junior center fielder Alexis Dibbley reached over the wall to take a home run away.

While ASU's offense stayed busy putting runs on the board, Lauppe did her job in the circle.

The Cowgirls got multiple runners on base in the first two innings, but Lauppe got out of both innings unharmed.

Lauppe allowed three straight singles to start the game, but a baserunning error on the third hit led to a double play, helping Lauppe escape the first inning.

In the second inning, McNeese threatened again with two runners on and nobody out, but Lauppe got out of that jam as well.

After those first two innings, the Cowgirls didn’t get another runner in scoring position for the rest of the game.

Lauppe faced the minimum over the final three innings, only allowing one hit.

The Sun Devils left several runners on in the second and third innings, and only led 2-0 entering the fourth.

However, ASU took full advantage of its chances in the fourth and fifth innings.

Led by Ho-Ching’s two home runs, the Sun Devils scored three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to seal the victory via run rule.

On the final play of the game, senior designated player Tanya Windle made a heads-up play on the basepaths.

With ASU leading 7-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Swan reached on an infield single and Windle scored from second base on the play to extend the lead to 8-0 and end the game early.

With the win, the Sun Devils move into the winners’ bracket to play Texas A&M on Saturday, May 16, while McNeese will play an elimination game that same day against UConn.  

Lauppe going the distance against the Cowgirls gives ASU the opportunity to start its ace, senior right-hander Kenzie Brown, on full rest when the Sun Devils take on the Aggies.