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Oklahoma Suffers First Loss After Nightmare Second and Third Innings to Arizona State

Both OU and the Sun Devils entered the day unbeaten, it ended with the Sooners pitching staff struggling mightily as the game got out of hand early.
Brady Trantham|
Oklahoma coach Skip Johnson sits in the dugout
Oklahoma coach Skip Johnson sits in the dugout | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oklahoma came into their first of two games against Arizona State leading the SEC in runs scored with 99 and second in batting average at .359.

None of that seemed to matter as the No. 13-ranked Sooners dropped their first of two to the Arizona State Sun Devils in convincing fashion 15-3 in a run rule after seven innings. The visiting Sun Devils punished the Sooners' pitching staff early and often with three homers in the second inning and an even deadlier third inning.

Skip Johnson went to three pitchers before Oklahoma (7-1) got their third chance at bat.

Right-hander Michael Catalano (1-1) got the start today after previously registering a win over Oklahoma State in Arlington, TX on Feb. 14. He got things rolling early with one walk, two groundouts — one that required an official review — and an acrobatic catch by Walk looking into a gusty Oklahoma wind.

Skip Johnson, Oklahoma Sooner
Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

That's where OU's good day ended.

Oklahoma’s aggression bit them in the first inning when right fielder Jason Walk took off early for second base, and Camden Johnson cracked a pitch directly at the second baseman, who tagged Walk for a double play. The Sooners were retired for the inning shortly after.

The second inning on Feb. 24, 2026, was one that Catalano and the Sooners will want to forget quickly.

Catalano surrendered a lead-off double, followed by catcher Dayton LaChance's error on a poor throw to third, allowing Arizona State's (8-0) first run. Then Dominic Longo hit a two-run home run to extend the Sun Devils' lead to 3-0.

Skip Johnson, Oklahoma Sooners
Head coach Skip Johnson | STEVE SISNEY / USA TODAY NETWORK

Another Sooner error in the second put a runner on second. Lead-off Sun Devil hitter Landon Hairston then crushed a two-run homer to extend the lead to five. Catalano's struggles continued as he surrendered a three-run shot before the inning mercifully ended.

Nolan Stevens woke up Oklahoma with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the lead to 8-2.

Johnson had seen enough and pulled Catalano for the left-hander Jaden Barfield to start the third inning.

The change in pitching personnel did little to stop the Arizona State avalanche. A lead-off double led to another two-run shot to increase the Sooner deficit back to eight. Austin Roellig hit yet another double to increase the lead to 10-2.

It got even uglier. A three-run home run extinguished any hope of a comeback. Six runs coming from four doubles and a home run resulted in a 14-2 lead for the Sun Devils.

Jaxon Willits' solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning did little to get the Oklahoma offense going. With the bases loaded, Kyle Branch popped out for the third out.

Six doubles and four home runs for the visitors on the day. Midweek college baseball madness at its finest.

Oklahoma will look to even the score against the Sun Devils tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. at Kimrey Family Stadium. It is the final game of the midweek series before the Sooners host the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Friday for a three-game series.

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Brady Trantham
BRADY TRANTHAM

Brady Trantham covered the Oklahoma City Thunder as the lead Thunder Insider from 2018 until 2021 for 107.7 The Franchise. During that time, Trantham also helped the station as a fill-in guest personality and co-hosted Oklahoma Sooner postgame shows. Trantham also covered the Thunder for the Norman Transcript and The Oklahoman on a freelance basis. He received his BA in history from the University of Oklahoma in 2014 and a BS in Sports Casting from Full Sail University in 2023. Trantham also founded and hosts the “Through the Keyhole” podcast, covering Oklahoma Sooners football. He was born in Oklahoma and raised as an Air Force brat all over the world before returning to Norman and setting down roots there.

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