TEMPE — Arizona State fifth-year right-handed pitcher Kenzie Brown pitched all seven innings and recorded 13 strikeouts in a stellar outing on Opening Day for ASU. Still, it wasn’t enough to propel the Sun Devils past No. 3 Oklahoma, who defeated Arizona State 2-1 on Thursday night.
In front of a sold-out crowd at Club Farrington, Brown struck out more Oklahoma hitters in a single game than any other pitcher since at least 2020. However, ASU’s offense struggled to gain momentum in the game, hitting a combined 1-for-22.
The lone hit came in the bottom of the third inning when senior outfielder Kaylee Pond broke the deadlock on a solo home run. The Sooners, however, responded later in the game with a two-run home run to retake the lead, which they kept until the final play.
“No one expected us to be in that game,” Brown said after the loss. “Obviously, we weren’t favored, but it takes a hit from KP (Pond) to keep us in the game, and just an all-around team effort. We’re making plays defensively that we didn’t make in the past three years, so I think we’re on the right track.”
After defeating Toledo 4-1 earlier in the day, the Maroon and Gold returned to the field to welcome the No. 3 Sooners for the 30th all-time meeting. In a cagey opening two innings, neither team found its offensive form: ASU did not register a hit, while Oklahoma tallied just one single.
The first significant action of the game came in the third, when Oklahoma’s senior outfielder Abby Dayton hit a double into deep center field. But, despite advancing to third, the Sun Devils escaped unharmed by virtue of two additional strikeouts by Brown.
The fifth-year pitcher recorded eight strikeouts in the first four innings, keeping the visitors off the board.
“Just gutsy and belief,” ASU head coach Megan Bartlett said after the game on words to describe Brown’s performance. “It’s what she came back here to do.”
With two outs in the bottom of the third inning, Pond recorded her first home run of the year, smashing a ball into right field to break the deadlock and give the hosts the lead.
First home run of the season for 42 🫡
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) February 6, 2026
📺 ESPN+#ForksUp /// @PondKaylee pic.twitter.com/syn5sxzv1e
Oklahoma had not been shut out since June 2, 2019. A streak that started over six years ago and came into jeopardy approaching the sixth inning as Brown continued to frustrate the Sooner hitters.
Yet, the tide changed when freshman catcher Kendall Wells crushed a two-run homer to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. It was just Brown’s third home run given up in her last 12 outings as Oklahoma took a late lead.
The Sun Devils struggled to create a late rally in the following innings, recording zero runs and zero hits as Bartlett’s side ultimately fell to the eight-time NCAA champions.
“We didn’t come up with the big hit when we needed it, and we had a few shots to do it,” Bartlett said. “They were neck and neck, and Kenzie was tremendous on the mound, so that’s my message in post game. You need to keep your heads up.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Maroon and Gold as Bartlett’s squad hosts Texas State on Friday at 6:15 p.m. MST in its third game of the Kajikawa Classic.
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