Saturday in Oklahoma City, the Texas Tech softball team continued its historic 2025 season by claiming the program's first-ever Big 12 Tournament title. That means that the Red Raiders are guaranteed a spot in next week's NCAA Tournament.
Of course, there was no doubt that Tech was going to make the field for the NCAA Tournament, even prior to this weekend, after the Red Raiders claimed the regular-season Big 12 championship. Now, however, it is almost guaranteed that Lubbock will be one of the host sites for the regional round of the NCAAs.
It was a dominant showing in OKC over the past three days. Beating Baylor, Arizona State, and Arizona on their way to the title, Tech outscored its three opponents 26-0. That included an 18-0 win over the Sun Devils in the semifinals, a game in which the Red Raiders set a Big 12 Tournament record for runs in a game.
In Sunday's championship game, a 4-0 shutout of the Wildcats, it was again NiJaree Canady who powered the Red Raiders to the win. She tossed a complete game, striking out eight hitters and surrendering only two hits.
The tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Tech's ace, pitched 16.2 innings and allowed just four hits and three walks while striking out 26 batters over the last three games. What's more, she started the game-defining double play on Saturday.
Tech led 4-0 in the top of the sixth when Arizona put runners on first and second with only one out. That's when Canady fielded a comebacker and fired the ball to Bailey Lindermuth at third base for the first out. Lindermuth then sent the ball across the diamond to Lauren Alred at first base to complete the double play and end Arizona's last rally of the day.
Like it's nothing 😮💨#NCAASoftball x 🎥 ESPN / @TexasTechSB pic.twitter.com/x96itOWbCS
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 10, 2025
The offense all came in the second inning. Tech got two RBI from shortstop Hailey Toney and one from both Mihyia Davis and Victoria Valdez to give Canady all the run support she would need.
In all, four Red Raiders, Canady, Toney, Davis, and Alana Johnson, earned All-Tournament recognition. That gave the team more all-tournament honorees than any other team.
This is the first time since 2019 that the Red Raiders have reached the NCAA Tournament. What's more, most believe that Tech will host a regional for the first time in its history.
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show will air Sunday at 6 p.m. Central. For the first time in six years, Texas Tech fans will have a reason to tune in.