No. 3 Oklahoma opens 2026 season with 2-1 win over Arizona State in Tempe

Late sixth-inning swing flips a pitchers’ duel

No. 3 Oklahoma opened its 2026 season Thursday night, Feb. 5, with a 2-1 road victory over Arizona State in Tempe, Arizona, turning a tight, low-scoring game with a two-run home run in the sixth inning.

Arizona State struck first in the third inning on a solo home run, accounting for the Sun Devils’ only run and only hit of the game. Oklahoma’s lineup was held scoreless through five innings before a two-run blast put the Sooners in front, 2-1, in the sixth.

Oklahoma’s staff limits traffic and closes the door

Oklahoma pitchers Audrey Lowry and Miali Guachino combined to allow one hit and one earned run. Lowry worked into the sixth inning and earned the win, while Guachino finished the final outs to secure the save. The pair faced a limited number of high-leverage situations, with Arizona State generating few baserunners and only one extra-base hit.

The game’s run prevention underscored early-season sharpness for both teams, as neither side produced sustained rallies. Arizona State’s scoring came on one swing, and Oklahoma’s response likewise hinged on a single power moment in the sixth.

Key hitters and game moments

• Kendall Wells delivered Oklahoma’s decisive hit, a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
• Abby Dayton recorded a double and finished 2-for-3, providing one of Oklahoma’s four hits.
• Arizona State’s Kaylee Pond hit the Sun Devils’ solo home run in the third inning.

Series context and what’s next

The result marked Oklahoma’s ninth consecutive season-opening win and continued a recent edge in the matchup, extending the Sooners’ winning streak against Arizona State to four games. The programs have met 30 times overall, with Oklahoma holding a narrow series advantage.

Oklahoma’s trip through Arizona was scheduled to continue immediately with a high-profile nonconference series in Tucson. The Sooners were set to face No. 17 Arizona on Friday, Feb. 6, as Oklahoma begins the season with consecutive road tests against established programs from the region.

Final score: Oklahoma 2, Arizona State 1 (Feb. 5, 2026).