Oklahoma's late offensive explosion silenced Texas Tech's early fight. A pitching duel turned sour with late home runs sealing the Red Raiders' defeat.
ARLINGTON - Opening Day optimism traveled well to Arlington. The bats? Not so much.
Texas Tech Red Raiders hung tough for six innings Friday afternoon at Globe Life Field, but a late Oklahoma power surge flipped a tight game into a 10-3 final in the Shriners Children’s College Baseball Showdown.
For most of the game, this was a pitcher’s duel. Tech right-hander Jackson Burns battled through command issues, walking five, yet limited the damage. He escaped multiple jams and surrendered just one run before exiting in the fifth. It wasn’t always clean, but it was gritty, the kind of outing that usually keeps you in striking distance.
The problem? Oklahoma’s Cameron Johnson was better.
The 6-6 righty carved through the Red Raiders' lineup, piling up a career-high 11 strikeouts across six shut-down innings. He needed 105 pitches to do it, but Tech struggled to square him up when it mattered most.
Then, the game unraveled late.
After staying within reach through the middle innings, Tech watched the Sooners break it open with three home runs over the final frames, including a ninth-inning grand slam that turned a competitive contest into a lopsided scoreboard.
It’s a frustrating result, especially considering how well Burns competed early. The Red Raiders generated opportunities but couldn’t land the big swing that Oklahoma eventually found.
Now the focus shifts quickly. Texas Tech returns to Globe Life Field for a high-profile matchup against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday.
Opening weekend in Arlington rarely offers breathing room. For Tech, the response starts at noon.