Arizona softball loses 3rd straight run-rule game in rout by ASU

The ASU softball teams celebrates one of 6 home runs against Arizona on Mar. 20, 2026 at Hillenbrand Stadium | Photo by Ryan Kelapire The Arizona Wildcats had a few surprises in the starting lineup for the first game of the rivalry series against Arizona State. They didn’t pay off.

Arizona fell to its in-state rival by the score of 16-5. The game ended after five innings. The loss was the third straight run-rule loss by Arizona after losing a doubleheader at Texas Tech, both by the run rule.

That streak follows a nine-game stretch of run-rule wins that concluded with a 9-0 victory in five innings over NiJaree Canady and the Red Raiders. Freshman righthander Rylie Holder got the Friday night start. With Anyssa Wild out for the foreseeable future with a broken bone, junior Tele Jennings started at designated player, although Emma Kavanagh was substituted into the lineup later in the game.

Freshman infielder Kez Lucas was back at first base after getting just one plate appearance in last week’s series at Texas Tech. “Anyssa broke her hand, so that mixed up the DP situation a little bit,” Arizona head coach Caitlin Lowe said. “We thought Tele was going to be a good matchup.