The Arizona State softball team’s magical season ended on Sunday, May 24, with a 5-0 loss to Texas in the Austin Super Regional.
The Sun Devils entered the Super Regional series an underdog to the defending champion Longhorns, but pulled off a stunning win in the Friday opener in the best-of-three series. Texas bounced back to win Saturday and force the deciding game Sunday on their home field at Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin, Texas.
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Texas ace Teagan Kavan pitched a complete game shutout, giving up five hits. It was her 14th career postseason win.
Sun Devils’ ace Kenzie Brown, who pitched a gem in Friday’s win, was back in the circle for ASU on Sunday with her team just a win away from heading to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City next week.
Brown gave up six hits and three runs in Sunday’s game. She was pulled in the bottom of the fifth inning after throwing 93 pitches and ASU trailing 2-0. She left the game after the Longhorns’ Viviana Martinez hit a triple, driving in Kayden Henry from first, capping a 17-pitch at bat, making it 3-0.
Meika Lauppe came in for Brown and got the next two batters to close the inning.
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In the bottom of the sixth, Texas loaded the bases with Lauppe still on the mound. Then Katie Stewart, the SEC player of the year, hit a shot to right that drove in two runs and made it 5-0. Texas again loaded the bases in the inning with two outs and Martinez back at the plate, but she grounded out to second to end the inning.
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Arizona State softball prepares for Super Regionals
Arizona State softball practices at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium on May 20, 2026, in Tempe.
(Megan Mendoza/The Republic)
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Arizona State softball prepares for Super Regionals
Arizona State softball practices at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium on May 20, 2026, in Tempe.
(Megan Mendoza/The Republic)
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Arizona State softball prepares for Super Regionals
Arizona State practices at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium on May 20, 2026, in Tempe.
(Megan Mendoza/The Republic)
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Arizona State softball prepares for Super Regionals
Arizona State practices at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium on May 20, 2026, in Tempe.
(Megan Mendoza/The Republic)
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Arizona State softball prepares for Super Regionals
Arizona State head coach Megan Bartlett speaks to the media after practice at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium on May 20, 2026, in Tempe.
(Megan Mendoza/The Republic)
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Arizona State softball prepares for Super Regionals
Arizona State head coach Megan Bartlett speaks to the media after practice at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium on May 20, 2026, in Tempe.
(Megan Mendoza/The Republic)
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Arizona State softball prepares for Super Regionals
Arizona State infielder Katie Chester speaks to the media after practice at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium on May 20, 2026, in Tempe.
(Megan Mendoza/The Republic)
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Arizona State softball prepares for Super Regionals
Arizona State infielder Brooklyn Ulrich speaks to the media after practice at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium on May 20, 2026, in Tempe.
(Megan Mendoza/The Republic)
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Arizona State softball prepares for Super Regionals
Arizona State infielder Brooklyn Ulrich speaks to the media after practice at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium on May 20, 2026, in Tempe.
(Megan Mendoza/The Republic)
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Arizona State softball prepares for Super Regionals
Arizona State infielder Katie Chester speaks to the media after practice at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium on May 20, 2026, in Tempe.
(Megan Mendoza/The Republic)
The Longhorns opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, when Stewart came to the plate with one out and drove in two runs on a hit to shallow centerfield. Pond dove forward trying to make the catch, but couldn’t hold on, allowing two runs to score. After that, Brown loaded the bases but was able to get out of the jam without further damage. ASU threatened in the fourth with a runner on third but couldn’t bring in the score. Texas also was scoreless in the inning, leaving it at 2-0.
The Sun Devils had a glimmer of hope at the top of the seventh when lead-off hitter Tiare Ho-Ching was hit by a pitch. That was followed by two outs, but then Kaylee Pond hit a single to put runners on first and second. That brought up Samantha Swan, who popped out to third to end the game.
Arizona State finished their season 45-17.
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The Longhorns (47-11) will advance to face Tennessee on May 28 in the first round of the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU falls to Texas in NCAA softball Super Regional