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Arizona right fielder Grace Jenkins hugs shortstop Tayler Biehl during a game against Texas Tech on Mar. 13, 2026 | Photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics
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In 2021, Arizona softball had nine run-rule victories in 10 games. The one that kept them from going 10 straight was an extra-inning affair against Oregon State. That kept the program record for consecutive run-rule wins at eight, a mark set in 2014. The Wildcats matched that record last weekend when they swept their Big 12 series against BYU.
It seemed highly likely, perhaps almost guaranteed, that there would be no record set this year. Surely not this week with the No. 13 Wildcats headed to Lubbock, Tex. to face the No. 2 Red Raiders and their million-dollar ace NiJaree Canady.
Think again.
Arizona manhandled TTU, using six hits to put up 9 runs in five innings. Canady left after a grand slam by Grace Jenkins put the Wildcats in run-rule territory with no outs in the top of the fifth. Arizona starter Jalen Adams went out in the bottom of the frame and slammed the door on the 9-0 win for the team’s ninth straight run-rule victory.
Arizona showed that strikeouts are not the be-all and end-all. Canady struck out eight in five innings but still emerged on the losing end of a blowout. Five of the six hits she gave up went for extra bases. Three were home runs. She walked two and her defense committed two errors behind her.
Arizona showed signs that they were not intimated in the second inning. Jenkins hit a high fly to right field, but Kaitlyn Terry couldn’t put it away. The error allowed Arizona’s right fielder to motor around to third with one out. Anyssa Wild got on via a walk to put runners on the corners with one out.
But Canady is Canady. She locked down and got out of the jam without giving up any runs. She couldn’t find the magic the next inning, though.
Regan Shockey reached on a one-out error by TTU shortstop Toney Hailey in the top of the third. After Sereniti Trice became one of the eight strikeout victims, Tayler Biehl stepped in and showed her renewed offensive confidence. She hit the first pitch past second base. Shockey was around to score from first.
The two-out damage continued. Sydney Stewart drew the walk to give Arizona two baserunners. That brought up Jenkins, who put three more runs on the board with her first home run of the night. Wild added another one with the second half of back-to-back home runs. The ‘Cats led 5-0 after three.
Canady finally got out of the inning with another strikeout, but Arizona had broken through in a big way—and the Wildcats weren’t done.
After a quiet fourth inning, the top and middle of the order was due back up in the fifth. Trice got it started with a leadoff single. Biehl followed with her second double of the afternoon. Stewart was hit by a pitch to load them for Jenkins.
Jenkins took full advantage, pulling the ball to right field for the grand slam. Her second of the day had Arizona cruising. The Wildcats couldn’t add on, but they only needed three outs to secure the program record for mercy rule wins and earn their third victory over a ranked team this season.
Adams sat the Raiders down in order to earn her 12th win of the season. She surrendered four hits and one walk while striking out four in five innings.
Arizona improved to 21-5 overall and 4-0 in the Big 12. Texas Tech moved to 25-2 and 3-1 in league play.
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