If the upcoming three weeks at Globe Life Field are indicative of what’s to come, then college baseball enthusiasts are in for a treat. The opening day of the Shriners Children’s Showdown, also known as the College Baseball Showdown, featured three intense games in a triple-header.
In the first game, Baylor and Nebraska pitchers dominated until Nebraska eventually broke the deadlock. Oklahoma and Oregon were deadlocked until the eighth inning, with both teams missing chances before Oregon seized control. The night game saw a close match between two top-25 teams, with Texas Tech almost mounting a comeback against No. 9 Tennessee. However, the Vols managed to pull away with four runs in the eighth inning.
Brett Sears, who had limited appearances last year, had an impressive outing against Baylor, pitching 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts under the guidance of new pitching coach Rob Childress. Mason Marriott of Baylor also showcased his talent with 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
Nebraska, projected to finish fifth in the competitive Big Ten, showed promise, with Grayson Grensell delivering a performance reminiscent of his NCAA Tournament showing last season.
Despite being tied for most of the game, Grensell’s stellar relief pitching, along with Michael Freund’s solid contribution, secured the win against Oklahoma. Grensell, a preseason All-Pac-12 pitcher aiming for a high spot in the MLB Draft next year, pitched three innings with just one hit allowed and no walks, while Freund recorded two strikeouts in 1.2 innings for the save.
