Nehanda Lewis connected for second career home run, first since Feb. 14, 2025
TEMPE – Arizona State’s Nehanda Lewis just wanted to keep the momentum inside the Sun Devil dugout during Friday night’s non-conference matchup against Texas State. The Tampa, Fla., native did more than that when she sent a 1-0 pitch 239 feet to give ASU a three-run lead in the bottom of the second.
The three-run margin was just enough to within Texas State’s late-game rally as Arizona State bounced back into the win column with a 3-2 victory over the Bobcats (2-1) to close out Friday night’s Kajikawa Classic schedule.
Tanya Windle opened the Sun Devils’ scoring with a two-out, bases-loaded infield single that scored Kaylee Pond from third and Katie Chester from second after Texas State second baseman Katarina Zarate lost the softball out of her glove while attempting to make an inning-ending dive catch.
However, Zarate got the two runs back for the Bobcats when redshirt junior sent an Aissa Silva (1-0) pitch over the right field wall for a two-run home run in the top of the fourth. The home run cut Arizona State’s three-run lead down to a single run.
But the Sun Devil pitching trio of Silva, Meika Lauppe and Kenzie Brown (S, 1) allowed just two Bobcat baserunners over the game’s final four frames and neither got further than second base: Keely Williams, who struck out against Brown to end the game, with two outs in the top of the fifth.
Williams could have potentially tied the game during that moment, but Lewis made a diving catch to her left at the edge of the infield on a line drive off the bat of Karmyn Bass to bring the inning to an end.
FROM HEAD COACH MEGAN BARTLETT
“Texas State is always a solid team. It’s always a good game against then. They typically come to the Kajikawa Classic, so we are certainly familiar with each other. (Texas State starting pitcher) Maddy Azua is a tough arm, and she certainly continued to give us trouble at the plate. But I thought our pitchers did a great job tonight. The defense did a solid job. Nehanda Lewis was pretty much a one-woman show tonight, so that was pretty cool to see.”
FROM JUNOIR INFIELDER NEHANDA LEWIS
“I was looking for the barrel or a ground ball up the middle, something to start the momentum. Thank God for that, obviously. It was something simple to get everybody going and I’m super grateful for the outcome.”
UP NEXT
Arizona State (2-1) will look to add another gem to its early-season résumé when the Sun Devils return to the field at Farrington Softball Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 7 to take on Northwestern at 6:15 p.m. MST. The Wildcats (1-1) entered the weekend receiving votes in the USA Softball/ESPN Preseason Top 25 poll.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Chris Brown
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