Sun Devils blank Red Raiders to win Big 12, punch tournament ticket

For the ninth time since joining the Big 12, the Sun Devils are conference champions. Arizona State completed a two-hit shutout win over Texas Tech on Saturday to claim the Big 12 softball championship.

The win capped off an impressive and, frankly, surprising run through the Big 12 tournament. Arizona State came into the tourney ranked 25th in the nation, but they were still only seeded sixth in the conference due to a stacked Big 12.

After an upset win over 3-seed rival Arizona in the quarterfinals, the Sun Devils kept the magic going against 2-seed Oklahoma State, winning 11-7 on Friday night. And that set up a trip to the title game for Saturday against top seed Texas Tech, ranked fourth in the entire nation.

With ace Kenzie Brown on the mound, Arizona State had just as much of a shot as the Red Raiders, and that proved to be true.

Tanya Windle put the Sun Devils on the board in the second inning with a solo homer, and Emily Schepp banged in a two-run homer later in the same frame. One more dinger, this time from Katie Chester, put the Sun Devils up 4-0 early.

That was all that was needed, as Brown was dominant from the mound. She threw nine strikeouts and gave up just two hits with zero runs, shutting down a Texas Tech team that was runner-up in the College World Series just last year.

It's a stunning turn of events for Arizona State, who needed a strong finish to the year just to reach the crowded Big 12 tournament. To go the distance and win the conference championship underscores just how hot this club is right now.

It also means the Sun Devils have officially clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament, though their exact seeding and regional placement will be decided tomorrow during the selection show.

Either way, this marks a seminal moment in coach Megan Bartlett's tenure, capping off her fourth season at the helm in a big way. Bartlett had previously described the Sun Devils' improbable tournament run as "playing with house money." Now, she's proving the old adage that the house always wins.