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Star Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady mostly had a day to forget on the mound Sunday in what could have been her final NCAA game.
But it didn’t matter for Canady, who secured the final out for the Red Raiders in a dramatic 8-7 win in nine innings over UCLA in an elimination game at the Women’s College World Series. Texas Tech had to survive UCLA’s seventh-inning rally that forced extra innings.
Texas Tech, the No. 11 seed, advances out of the loser’s bracket to face No. 1 seed Alabama in Monday’s semifinal round. UCLA, which scored the most runs in a single season in NCAA history, is eliminated, and its season is over.
Leveraging a rule that allows NCAA softball pitchers to return to the mound after leaving by switching to a different position, Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco made six pitching changes while using only two pitchers — Canady and Kaitlyn Terry.
Canady, a two-time National Pitcher of the Year, struggled in 2 1/3 innings of her start, hitting three UCLA batters and allowing three runs before Glasco replaced her in the third inning with Terry.
Terry immediately got out of a bases-loaded jam and pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings to send Texas Tech into the bottom of the seventh inning with a 6-3 lead, three outs away from a win. But when she allowed a leadoff home run, Glasco replaced her with Canady, who had remained in the game on defense.
Canady allowed a single on her second pitch, then faced UCLA slugger Jordan Woolery, who’d tagged her for a two-run home run in the second inning. Woolery got Canady again, this time with a no-doubt, two-out, two-run blast deep into the center-field bleachers that tied the game at 6-6 and ultimately forced extra innings.
From there, Glasco made four more pitching changes, alternating between Canady and Terry. And Terry ultimately played the hero in extra innings with her bat.
After a scoreless eighth inning, Terry took the plate with a runner on first and no outs. She delivered a deep fly ball to the warning track that UCLA’s outfielders struggled to corral and ended up with an RBI double to give Texas Tech a 7-6 lead.
The Red Raiders added an insurance run before the frame was over and went into the bottom of the ninth with an 8-6 lead and the top of the UCLA lineup lingering.
This time, Glasco trusted Terry with the high-leverage situation. Terry recorded a leadoff out, but allowed UCLA to score a run on two hits, including an RBI single from Woolery. And Glasco put Canady back in to get the last two outs of the game.
Canady ultimately delivered with a game-ending strikeout of Bri Alejandre to secure the thrilling win in the second extra inning.
When the game was done, Canady had allowed 5 earned runs on 6 hits, 1 walk, 3 hit-by-pitches and 2 home runs — not the finest performance for a pitcher making her record-tying 17th WCWS start on the mound. But she got the final out and a chance to pitch another day.
Terry allowed 2 earned runs on 4 hits, 2 walks and 1 home run — and delivered the go-ahead run in extra innings.
At the plate for Texas Tech, Mia Williams hit 3 of 5 with three runs scored, including one of two Texas Tech home runs on the day. Jasmyn Burns hit the other Texas Tech home run as the Red Raiders tagged UCLA starter Taylor Tinsley for 13 hits and six walks.
Tinsley pitched the entire game for UCLA, throwing 180 pitches.
Woolery did her best to play the hero for the Bruins, going 3 of 4 with 1 walk, 2 home runs and 5 RBI. Her first home run gave UCLA a 2-1 lead, and her second sent the game to extra innings. Then she kept UCLA going with the RBI single in the ninth. But it wasn’t enough to propel the Bruins to victory.
Texas Tech is now two wins away from advancing to the WCWS final against either Texas or Tennessee. Since they advanced out of the loser’s bracket, the Red Raiders will need to beat Alabama twice. Alabama, which hasn’t lost in the WCWS, needs a single win Monday to secure its place in the final.
The two teams that advance to the final will play a best-of-three series for the NCAA title.
— Jason Owens
Earlier Sunday, No. 2 Texas trailed No. 4 Nebraska for 5 1/3 innings and Cornhuskers pitcher Jordy Frahm appeared to be on her way to WCWS history by allowing no hits.
But Frahm’s gem imploded in the sixth on consecutive one-out singles from Jaycie Nichols and Kayden Henry. Katie Stewart then launched the second pitch she saw from Frahm 250 feet down the left-field line for a three-run homer. The Longhorns advance to face the Volunteers in Monday’s first semifinal matchup. Nebraska is eliminated from the tournament.
— Ian Casselberry
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But it didn’t matter for Canady, who secured the final out for the Red Raiders in a dramatic 8-7 win in nine innings over UCLA in an elimination game at the Women’s College World Series. Texas Tech had to survive UCLA’s seventh-inning rally that forced extra innings.
Texas Tech, the No. 11 seed, advances out of the loser’s bracket to face No. 1 seed Alabama in Monday’s semifinal round. UCLA, which scored the most runs in a single season in NCAA history, is eliminated, and its season is over.
Texas Tech makes 6 pitching changes with 2 pitchers
Leveraging a rule that allows NCAA softball pitchers to return to the mound after leaving by switching to a different position, Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco made six pitching changes while using only two pitchers — Canady and Kaitlyn Terry.
Canady, a two-time National Pitcher of the Year, struggled in 2 1/3 innings of her start, hitting three UCLA batters and allowing three runs before Glasco replaced her in the third inning with Terry.
Terry immediately got out of a bases-loaded jam and pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings to send Texas Tech into the bottom of the seventh inning with a 6-3 lead, three outs away from a win. But when she allowed a leadoff home run, Glasco replaced her with Canady, who had remained in the game on defense.
Canady allows a second home run to Jordan Woolery
Canady allowed a single on her second pitch, then faced UCLA slugger Jordan Woolery, who’d tagged her for a two-run home run in the second inning. Woolery got Canady again, this time with a no-doubt, two-out, two-run blast deep into the center-field bleachers that tied the game at 6-6 and ultimately forced extra innings.
From there, Glasco made four more pitching changes, alternating between Canady and Terry. And Terry ultimately played the hero in extra innings with her bat.
Terry knocks in go-ahead run in extras
After a scoreless eighth inning, Terry took the plate with a runner on first and no outs. She delivered a deep fly ball to the warning track that UCLA’s outfielders struggled to corral and ended up with an RBI double to give Texas Tech a 7-6 lead.
The Red Raiders added an insurance run before the frame was over and went into the bottom of the ninth with an 8-6 lead and the top of the UCLA lineup lingering.
This time, Glasco trusted Terry with the high-leverage situation. Terry recorded a leadoff out, but allowed UCLA to score a run on two hits, including an RBI single from Woolery. And Glasco put Canady back in to get the last two outs of the game.
Canady gets the final out
Canady ultimately delivered with a game-ending strikeout of Bri Alejandre to secure the thrilling win in the second extra inning.
When the game was done, Canady had allowed 5 earned runs on 6 hits, 1 walk, 3 hit-by-pitches and 2 home runs — not the finest performance for a pitcher making her record-tying 17th WCWS start on the mound. But she got the final out and a chance to pitch another day.
Terry allowed 2 earned runs on 4 hits, 2 walks and 1 home run — and delivered the go-ahead run in extra innings.
At the plate for Texas Tech, Mia Williams hit 3 of 5 with three runs scored, including one of two Texas Tech home runs on the day. Jasmyn Burns hit the other Texas Tech home run as the Red Raiders tagged UCLA starter Taylor Tinsley for 13 hits and six walks.
Tinsley pitched the entire game for UCLA, throwing 180 pitches.
Woolery did her best to play the hero for the Bruins, going 3 of 4 with 1 walk, 2 home runs and 5 RBI. Her first home run gave UCLA a 2-1 lead, and her second sent the game to extra innings. Then she kept UCLA going with the RBI single in the ninth. But it wasn’t enough to propel the Bruins to victory.
Texas Tech is now two wins away from advancing to the WCWS final against either Texas or Tennessee. Since they advanced out of the loser’s bracket, the Red Raiders will need to beat Alabama twice. Alabama, which hasn’t lost in the WCWS, needs a single win Monday to secure its place in the final.
The two teams that advance to the final will play a best-of-three series for the NCAA title.
— Jason Owens
Texas spoils no-hit bid, tops Nebraska
Earlier Sunday, No. 2 Texas trailed No. 4 Nebraska for 5 1/3 innings and Cornhuskers pitcher Jordy Frahm appeared to be on her way to WCWS history by allowing no hits.
But Frahm’s gem imploded in the sixth on consecutive one-out singles from Jaycie Nichols and Kayden Henry. Katie Stewart then launched the second pitch she saw from Frahm 250 feet down the left-field line for a three-run homer. The Longhorns advance to face the Volunteers in Monday’s first semifinal matchup. Nebraska is eliminated from the tournament.
— Ian Casselberry
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