It wasn’t just the bats that were truly impressive for the Texas Tech softball team as it made its start in the Women’s College World Series on Thursday against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. In the first game of Texas Tech’s second trip to Oklahoma City, the Red Raiders were able to get a dominant performance from NiJaree Canady, which was incredibly welcomed.
Canady was able to really make a statement for the Red Raiders in the opening frame of the game as the Red Raiders faced Mississippi State. And really, through the entire game, Canady was impressive. She was able to strike out a couple of Bulldogs in the first inning and then went through four innings of scoreless softball.
In Texas Tech’s postgame press conference, Gerry Glasco (the head coach of the Red Raiders softball team) took a moment to really compliment Canady on how she showed up in the 8-0 win over the Bulldogs.
“NiJa came out, the very first inning, I think she had two strikeouts,” Glasco said. “She set the tone. She gave us four innings, I believe with two hits and I just thought she was fantastic, as she always is in Oklahoma City.”
Texas Tech softball’s Gerry Glasco breaks down how the Red Raiders went seamlessly from NiJaree Canady to Kaitlyn Terry
And he’s not wrong.
Canady has been great for the Red Raiders while playing in the Women’s College World Series. She was dominant there a season ago and this is a great start for her there this season. But Canady wasn’t the only impressive pitcher for the Red Raiders.
When the Texas Tech softball team chose to turn to Kaitlyn Terry in the fifth inning of the game, things went smoothly there as well. The switch from one pitcher to the other went without any sort of issue and Terry took care of business to close out the game against the Bulldogs.
“I was proud of KT when we brought here in,” Glasco said. “It was a smooth, smooth turnover and transition. I thought she did great.”
One inning of scoreless and hitless softball in the Women’s College World Series to secure a run-rule win and allowing your starting pitcher to get a bit of rest before moving on in the winners bracket? That sure feels like a great thing to me.
Now, Texas Tech is poised to be able to navigate a matchup with the Tennessee Lady Vols with both of the Red Raiders’ leading pitchers theoretically ready to go. That gives the Red Raiders a huge advantage should Texas Tech need it.
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