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No. 7 Arizona takes Territorial Cup series behind Netz's arm and bat

by:Grace Johnson•03/22/25
Screenshot 2025-03-22 at 9.38.43 PM
Courtesy of Patrick Mulligan/Arizona Athletics

No. 7 Arizona secured the series win with a 5-1 victory over Arizona State on Saturday night, keeping the Territorial Cup in Tucson.

Arizona right-hander Devyn Netz once again showed why she is one of the best two-way players in the country. The redshirt senior pitched the complete game holding the Sun Devils to one run and five hits. 

Netz then helped out her own cause by smacking one over the wall in the sixth inning for a two-run shot. She ended the night with three RBIs. But Netz said she and her team had a mission coming into the week.

“When you take the state it just feels good as well,” Netz said. “I think that was just the intent this whole week, even playing GCU and ASU, is to win our state and know that it’s ours.” 

Outside of Netz’s home run, the Wildcats earned their runs through the small ball and aggressive base running. In the third, Kaiah Altmeyer singled to the right side but brought home two runs after third base coach Lauren Lappin sent Paige Dimler home from second base. 

However, without the long ball the score margin would have been a lot closer. And Arizona head coach Caitlin Lowe credits her lineup for making adjustments and performing. 

“It’s a big deal to get runners on base and execute,” Lowe said. “Whether it’s a home run or not, honestly just getting that big hit when we have our chances because this is a good pitching staff.”

ASU right-hander Meika Lauppe kept the damage to a minimum, only allowing a powerful Arizona lineup to eight hits. Lauppe’s offense failed to reinforce her.

“We’re going to try some things,” Arizona State head coach Megan Bartlett said. “We’ve got versatile kids and they both run well, so we’ll just keep trying things in the lineup until something kind of clicks in place and they catch some momentum.”

The Sun Devils stirred up some action on the bases in the seventh inning scoring off a single from senior infielder AJ Murphy, but it was too little too late. Netz ultimately struck out freshman Takyla Davis to seal the win.

Facing the possibility of a sweep Sunday, Bartlett said she expects her team to show up and not go down without a fight. 

“We don’t do self-pity around here,” Bartlett said. “That’s not a thing. That’s weak and we don’t stand for that. So I expect them to show up, locked in and focused and ready to fight.”

Netz and her crew, however, don’t want just the series win; they want the sweep.

“This one is definitely for us and we’re going to take the sweep back home for sure and that’s the plan tomorrow,” Netz said.

The final game of the rival series begins Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.

Read more at Softball America:

Arizona’s Devyn Netz is Back and Better than Ever

Big 12 Power Rankings 

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