Things in Oklahoma City are off to a great start for Gerry Glasco and the Texas Tech softball team. The 2026 Women’s College World Series is underway and the Red Raiders (58-7) managed to take care of business in a dominant Game 1 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs (43-20). It only took five innings for Texas Tech to go out and beat MSU, winning 8-0.
The Red Raiders really didn’t waste much time getting this game started as Jacki Lis got the scoring going in the first inning. With Mia Williams already on base thanks to a hit by pitch, Lis hit a two-run home run and put the Red Raiders up 2-0 before Mississippi State even recorded an out.
By the way, Lis was a legitimate hero for Texas Tech in this game as she finished going 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI.
NiJaree Canady and the Texas Tech softball team crushed Mississippi State in the Women’s College World Series opener
The Red Raiders added a couple more runs in the bottom of the second inning as Lauren Allred hit an RBI double to get Mihyia Davis home. Then Williams got Allred home via a double of her own. Tech was up 4-0 heading into the third inning.
That score held for a couple of innings, but then the Red Raiders exploded at the plate once again.
A four-run fifth inning sealed the game as a run-rule win for Texas Tech. Lis drove in Williams thanks to a single. Kaitlyn Terry hit a single to bring in Lis. Davis hit a single that scored Taylor Pannell. Then, thanks to a throwing error, Terry got home. 8-0. A win for the Red Raiders.
Canady and Terry were dominant in the circle for Texas Tech
Mississippi State doesn’t have the most powerful batting lineup in the Women’s College World Series, but it’s still a great thing that Canady and Terry were able to just step into the circle and take care of business for Texas Tech. Given the recent struggles that the Red Raiders have had pitching, this sort of effort was refreshing.
Through 4.0 innings pitched, Canady gave up a couple of hits and walked a batter, but she struck out three Bulldogs in the process. Terry stepped in for an inning and got through without any sort of issues with just seven pitches.
With the win, Canady now sits with a win-loss record of 26-6 on the season. The Red Raiders are awaiting their next opponent, which will be decided when the Texas Longhorns and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers meet up in Game 2 of the WCWS. The winner of that matchup will face Texas Tech while the loser will take on Mississippi State in an elimination game.
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