In a historic win, the Texas Tech Red Raiders secured their first conference tournament softball championship by defeating the Arizona Wildcats 4-0 on Saturday. Top-seeded Texas Tech showcased their prowess with crucial performances, notably by Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, NiJaree Canady. With this victory, the Red Raiders earned their spot in the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time, marking a significant achievement under first-year head coach Gerry Glasco.
This season, Texas Tech (45-12) not only bagged their first regular-season title but they did so spectacularly by shutting out their opponents 23 times. Canady’s remarkable pitching was at the forefront of this success. She threw a complete game, allowing only two hits and two walks, while striking out eight, and earning her 26th win of the season—an impressive tally only surpassed once in the school’s history.
The defining moment of the match came in the second inning. Texas Tech’s offense cleverly took advantage, beginning with Bailey Lindemuth, who singled, advanced to second with a steal, and reached third on a wild pitch. Victoria Valdez then hit a single to bring Lindemuth home. Adding to the scoreboard, Hailey Toney delivered a crucial two-run double, and Mihyia Davis rounded off the inning with a commanding RBI single, giving the Red Raiders a comfortable 4-0 lead.
Arizona’s pitcher, Ryan Maddox (3-2), struggled in the second inning, which was pivotal for Texas Tech’s advantage. Nonetheless, Maddox’s relief, Miranda Stoddard, managed to control the damage by pitching four hitless innings and conceding only two walks, but it was too late to swing the momentum.
Only in the sixth inning did Canady encounter any considerable pressure. After issuing a walk to Dakota Kennedy and conceding a single to Regan Shockey, Canady stayed composed, efficiently inducing a double play to end Arizona’s hopes of scoring.
Texas Tech reached the finals by setting a tournament record in an 18-0 triumph over Arizona State in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Arizona overcame a tough challenge by rallying from a two-run deficit to defeat Iowa State 6-3.
The Wildcats, newcomers to the Big 12, boast a rich legacy with seven national championships. However, they have not claimed the title since 2007 and have been runners-up five times. With appearances in the Women’s College World Series 25 times out of 32, Arizona’s tournament history remains illustrious.
Remarkably, this victory marks Texas Tech’s return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2019, although they have yet to grace the field at the Women’s College World Series.