No. 25 Arizona State struggled in Big 12 play during the regular season, finishing with a losing record (11-13) in conference games.

However, the Sun Devils are rounding into form just in time for the postseason.

ASU entered the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 6 seed. Still, the team has now pulled two consecutive upsets at Devon Park in Oklahoma City to advance to the championship game against No. 4 Texas Tech on Saturday morning.

Pitching defined Thursday’s win over No. 20 Arizona, while Friday was all about offense.

After a weather-delayed start, the Sun Devils’ bats exploded against one of the best pitchers in the country.

ASU hit four home runs in the semifinal game and scored six runs in the second inning against Oklahoma State senior right-hand pitcher Ruby Meylan, the Co-Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, en route to an 11-7 win over No. 15 OSU on Friday, May 8.

On Thursday, Meylan pitched a masterpiece against Utah in the quarterfinal, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning. However, the Sun Devils got to her early, chasing Meylan from the game after only 1 ⅓ innings pitched.

ASU sent 11 hitters to the plate in the second inning and scored six runs, including a three-run home run by senior designated hitter Tanya Windle.

After Meylan exited, senior right-hander RyLee Crandall entered the game for the Cowgirls. Crandall pitched 2 ⅔ scoreless innings before ASU scored four against her in the fifth inning.

Sophomore right fielder Ashleigh Mejia and senior shortstop Brooklyn Ulrich each hit a two-run homer against Crandall in the fifth, putting the Sun Devils up 10-2 and three outs away from a run-rule.

Ulrich, the hero against Arizona, had her second consecutive three-hit game and second straight game with a home run.  

However, Oklahoma State scored four of its own in the bottom of the fifth to not only extend the game but give itself a chance at a comeback.

Junior right-hander Meika Lauppe kept the Cowgirls’ bats at bay through the first four innings. However, she struggled in the fifth, allowing Oklahoma State to keep its chances alive.

ASU sent senior left-hander Aissa Silva to the circle, and she got the final two outs of the inning to prevent any further damage.

Silva pitched the final 2 ⅔ innings and only allowed one run, and junior third baseman Emily Schepp swung momentum back in the Sun Devils’ favor with a solo homer in the top of the sixth as ASU closed out the win.

The Sun Devils defeated the Cowgirls in the Big 12 Tournament for the second consecutive season, with ASU winning last season’s quarterfinal matchup 2-1.

After taking down the third-seeded Arizona and second-seeded Oklahoma State, the Sun Devils will face their toughest test in the championship game against the No. 1 seed Texas Tech, which swept ASU in Tempe just two weeks ago.

After Friday’s success against Meylan, things don’t get any easier for the Sun Devils, who will likely have to face the other Co-Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, senior right-hander NiJaree Canady, in the championship game.