Softball Drops Big 12 Opener at No. 3 Oklahoma

Friday, March 23

Norman, OK

6:30 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

Oklahoma

Softball Drops Big 12 Opener at No. 3 Oklahoma

March 23, 2018 | Softball

Box Score PDF Box Score

Game two of the series remains slated for 1 p.m., Saturday despite the threat of thunderstorms.

By: Ty Parker, Texas Tech Athletics Communications

NORMAN, Okla. – Texas Tech softball dropped its Big 12 opener at No. 3 Oklahoma, 8-0, in five innings on Friday in the first of a three-game series at Marita Hynes Field in Norman, Okla.

The Sooners (26-2) hit four home runs in the first inning, and three-time Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Paige Parker tallied seven strikeouts on the way to her 107^th career victory.

Redshirt freshman Heaven Burton and senior Kaylee Strickland both finished 1-for-2 for the Red Raiders (20-11). Burton led off the game with an 11-pitch at bat that resulted in a walk and later recorded a hit in the third. The outfielder has now hit safely in 20 of the last 23 games and took over the team lead in batting at .376 for the year.

The two-time defending national champions opened the scoring in the first with a lead-off home run from junior Sydney Romero and then a pair of two-run home runs from freshman Jocelyn Alo and senior Nicole Pendley. Junior Caleigh Clifton capped off the inning with a solo home run to give OU a 6-0 lead after one.

The loss marked the first time the Red Raiders have been held scoreless this season and just the fourth time through 31 games to give up eight runs or more.

Texas Tech moves to 9-14 all-time in Big 12 openers, including 2-2 under head coach Adrian Gregory.

Sophomore Kassidy Scott (5-4) received the start and went 2.1 innings in the loss. Senior Cheyene Powell spelled her in the third and tossed 1.2 scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits.

UP NEXT
The series continues on Saturday with a 1 p.m., first pitch and then concludes on Sunday at 2 p.m. Both Saturday and Sunday's games will be televised on FOX Sports Oklahoma and FOX College Sports Central, as well as streamed on the FOX Sports Go app.