Weekend Roundup: Texas & OU Baseball Start Perfect, Hoops Stay Hot
It was a banner weekend for the Red River rivals, particularly on the diamond, as the 2026 college baseball season kicked off with dominance from both Norman and Austin. Meanwhile, on the hardwood, the Sooners kept their postseason hopes alive with a vital conference win.
Baseball: Longhorns Dominate UC Davis
The Texas Longhorns opened their season at UFCU Disch-Falk Field with a statement series against UC Davis.
- Friday: Texas crushed the Aggies 12-2 in a seven-inning run-rule victory. Starting pitcher Ruger Riojas was electric, striking out nine batters over five innings. Offensively, the power was on display with home runs from Aiden Robbins and Ethan Mendoza.
- Saturday: The Horns followed up with a 4-2 win, relying on timely hitting and a disciplined bullpen to secure the series victory early.
The pitching depth and power hitting displayed this weekend suggest the Longhorns are poised for a deep run to Omaha this summer.
Baseball: Sooners Shine at Shriners Showdown
Not to be outdone, the Oklahoma Sooners traveled to Arlington for the prestigious Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field, taking down two massive opponents.
- Friday: OU dismantled Texas Tech 10-3. Junior lefty Cameron Johnson was the star, fanning 11 batters in six innings of work. The offense exploded with a grand slam from Brendan Brock and homers from Dayton Tockey and Trey Gambill.
- Saturday: In a Bedlam tilt on a neutral field, the Sooners routed Oklahoma State 10-1. LJ Mercurius was untouchable, striking out 12 Cowboys. Trey Gambill stayed hot, launching another home run and driving in three runs.
Starting the season 2-0 with dominant wins over Big 12 foes sets a high bar for the Sooners’ campaign.
Basketball: Sooners Handle Georgia
Back in Norman, the Oklahoma men’s basketball team secured a much-needed 94-78 victory over Georgia at the Lloyd Noble Center.
After a tough loss to Kentucky earlier in the month, Porter Moser’s squad responded with high-energy play. Tae Davis led the way with 19 points, but it was a balanced attack with Nijel Pack and Kuol Atak adding 18 points apiece. An 18-0 run in the second half blew the game open, showcasing the explosive potential of this team when they lock in defensively.
The win stabilizes the Sooners as they head into a brutal stretch of late-February SEC play, including trips to Tennessee and LSU.
