Cameron Johnson

Junior pitcher Cameron Johnson during the game against Texas Tech in the Shriners Children's College Showdown at Globe Life Field on Feb. 13.

 Jenna Burress/OU Daily

OU baseball (1-0) defeated Texas Tech (0-1) 10-3 Friday in its season opener at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Here are three takeaways from Friday’s win:

Cameron Johnson sets the tone

A year after posting a 5.57 earned run average in 21 innings pitched as a transfer from LSU, junior left-handed pitcher Cameron Johnson showed promise in the Sooners’ 2026 opener.

Johnson  pitched a career-high six innings, while giving up only three hits, one unearned run, three walks and striking out a career-high 11 batters in the win. He finds himself as the leader of a new-look OU starting rotation after being moved to the bullpen from a starting pitcher in 2025. He and the rest of the bullpen will work to keep delivering solid performances in the nonconference to gain confidence for conference play.

Friday was an encouraging beginning, as Johnson attacked the strike zone and didn’t let the Texas Tech rallies get to him.

Returners hit key home runs

Senior infielder Dayton Tockey and senior outfielder Trey Gambill led the way.

Tockey capitalized with a two-run home run in the sixth inning to give the Sooners a lead they never relinquished. Tockey, who was hampered by a mid-season injury in 2025, went 1 for 3 with a walk on Friday in OU’s season opener. 

In the eighth inning, senior outfielder Gambill hit a two-run home run that extended the Sooners’ lead.

Tockey and Gambill were two mainstays in the OU lineup last year when healthy and have gotten off to a good start in 2026.

Brendan Brock breaks it open

In the top of the ninth inning, with the Sooners up 6-3, junior catcher/outfielder Brendan Brock came through with a grand slam to center field on a one-two pitch that was the dagger in Friday’s win.

Brock, a transfer from Southwestern Illinois Community College, went 2 for 4 in his OU debut in the No. 6 hole. He was one of four transfers in the Sooners’ opening lineup.

Next, OU will take on Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Globe Life Field on FloCollege. 

This story was edited by Joshua McDaniel.

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