The Texas Tech softball team has rewritten the program's history books all season long. That continued on Sunday afternoon when the Red Raiders completed their sweep through the Lubbock Regional of the NCAA Tournament to reach the Super Regional round for the first time in their history.
The No. 12 overall seed Red Raiders now head to Tallahassee, Florida, to play No. 5 seed Florida State next weekend in a three-game series. The first team to capture two of those games will qualify for the College Softball World Series in Oklahoma City.
Texas Tech was dominant in the first two games of the Lubbock Regional. Friday, Tech took out Brown 6-0.
Securing their 24th shutout of the year, Tech notched a new program high with 46 wins. As expected, NiJaree Canady did some of the heavy lifting. However, the nation's best pitcher made her impact at the plate in this game.
Bashing her ninth homer of the season, she took the team lead in that category. Similarly, Alana Johnson blasted a three-run homer and an RBI triple as she went 2-3 on the day.
In the circle, Tech got four innings from Chloe Riassetto and three from Samantha Lincoln. That duo struck out only two batters but walked none in the shutout.
Saturday, Tech blasted the No. 2 seed in the Lubbock Regional, Mississippi State, 10-1. Securing a run-rule win after six innings, Tech put on an impressive power display, mashing three homers, including one from Canady that landed in a trash can in the outfield bleachers after clearing the fence.
Canady was also dominant in the circle, going five complete innings while giving up only one run on five hits and striking out five. With the win, she moved to 27-5 on the year.
Sunday, Tech had a bit of a tougher time in their rematch with the Bulldogs. But despite Canady having to pitch with a blister on her finger, the Red Raiders came away with a 9-6 win to close out the regional.
Canady fought her way through five innings, allowing six runs (three earned) and eight hits while striking out four. Meanwhile, Riassetto closed things out with two scoreless innings in the circle.
At the plate, Tech got clutch hits from Hailey Toney and Lauren Allred to keep MSU at bay. After the Bulldogs pulled to within 7-6 in the fifth inning, Toney belted a two-run homer and Allred brought in a run with a double to give their team some breathing room.
Now, the Red Raiders are the Lubbock Regional champions and have a chance to make more history by reaching the World Series for the first time. But regardless of what happens next weekend, it has already been an unforgettable season for a softball program that was dormant just a year ago.