Early brilliance from Jackson Burns faded as Oklahoma's late offensive burst secured a 10-3 victory over Texas Tech in Arlington.
ARLINGTON - Texas Tech baseball showed flashes of promise Friday at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown, but a late surge from Oklahoma turned a tight contest into a 10-3 setback at Globe Life Field.
Redshirt freshman Jackson Burns gave the Red Raiders exactly what they needed to start the season.
Making his second career Opening Weekend start after missing the final 51 games last year due to illness, Burns delivered 4.2 gritty innings. The right-hander allowed just three hits and one run while keeping Oklahoma’s lineup off balance through the first five frames.
Texas Tech grabbed an early 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI groundout from catcher Matt Quintanar, and for much of the afternoon, Burns matched Oklahoma starter Cameron Johnson pitch for pitch.
Johnson, an LSU transfer, ultimately went six innings, allowing three hits and one unearned run while striking out 11 on 105 pitches.
The momentum shifted in the sixth inning. Oklahoma first baseman Dayton Tockey launched a two-run home run off reliever Ryan Free to give the Sooners a 3-1 edge. Free worked 1.2 innings, surrendering both runs on that lone hit.
Kyeler Thomson did everything he could to spark the Red Raiders' offense. The leadoff man collected three hits, including a triple in the eighth inning, and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Tracer Lopez to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Thomson also attempted to extend his perfect stolen base streak but was tagged out for the first time in his collegiate career after starting 29-for-29.
Oklahoma pulled away for good in the ninth, highlighted by a grand slam from Brendan Brock.
Texas Tech (0-1) will look to bounce back against No. 23 Vanderbilt on Saturday morning as the Red Raiders continue play in Arlington.