A Moment in History. Red Raiders Comeback against Ole Miss.
Story by Cade Welty
Connoisseur Media Intern
The Red Raiders surge back with only one out to play in the bottom of the 7th down eight runs.
They won over Ole Miss 10-9 in 8 full innings.
A whirlwind is the best way to describe what the fans at Tracy Sellers Field witnessed. But for 20 outs it was a disappointment and realization that Texas Tech might be shut out again. “Um, just a pitch, you know it happens, like Jamie said, it’s never over until it’s over,” said Ole Miss Outfielder Taylor Malvin. “The big thing is just flush it”.
Ole Miss just needed 4 pitches to score in this game as Kennedy Bunker hit a deep solo shot on a 2-1 count and 4th pitch from NiJaree Canady.
Canady would then let up a hard hit single from Pickens and then Llamas right after. The first three batters all recorded hits against Texas Tech’s Ace. Canady would then do the inverse of that by retiring the next three batters in order.
Madi George, who is Ole Miss’s power hitter, was held to a pop up and then back to back strikeouts for Canady to get out of the 1st inning with only allowing one run. In the bottom half of the inning Tech would go in order before Jackie Lis worked a full count walk. Burns would line out and that’s how the bottom of the 1st would go.
Canady would settle in by getting Ole Miss would go scoreless in the top of the 2nd and 3rd. Boyer at the time was carrying a no hitter and masterclass through three full innings.
Heading to the 4th that’s when the wheels would begin to turn for the Rebel offense. After another hit by pitch this time it being Laylonna Applin then a Tenly Grisham single would put two on and one out for Rachel Connors. Connors would send a deep fly ball to left center and clear the fence. 4-0 Rebels lead while no-hitting Texas Tech.
Taylor Malvin spoke on how they prepared for Canady and what made them successful early on. “We did a pretty good job at eliminating the chases… we did a really good job of hitting our pitches,” Malvin said. Malvin would ground out and Bunker would strike out swinging to end the top of the 4th barrage from Ole Miss.
Tech again would be quiet on offense again going in order without a threat. Still hitless this time through the 4th inning.
In the bottom of the 5th Tech Mihyia Davis, on her birthday, brought the first hit for Tech by hitting a double off the glove of the 2nd baseman. That would be all as Terry would pop up to 3rd and Texas Tech remained scoreless.
In the top of the 7th was Samantha Lincoln’s 1st batter she faced homered after a call of an illegal substitution by Texas Tech. This would allow Ole Miss to pinch hit for the batter and the count would be set to 2-2. Mackenzie Pickens was given the nod and she sent the first pitch out of the ballpark. 5-0 Ole Miss led.
The Rebels would add another nail to the coffin for Tech by adding on an RBI single from Taylor Roman and a 2 RBI double from Ryan Starr. Malvin would ground out to end the run. Bottom 7th and the Red Raiders needed 8 runs with three outs to tie it.
Lauren Allred would single, giving Tech their third hit of the ballgame. Halleman would lineout to short and Davis would strike out swinging. The Red Raiders were down to their final strike of the game. No team in any NCAA game since 2000 had won when they trailed by 8 or more in any inning. The record was 0-640. Then the tide turned for the Red Raiders.
Allred moved up to second on a passed ball. On a full count for Terry and she would drive a single between 2nd and 1st to bring home Allred. A
shutout was no longer the worry for Texas Tech. Rebels lead 8-1.
Jackie Lis took the third pitch in her at bat would send a rocket to center field and over the wall guided by the West Texas wind. The score was now 8-3 Rebels and the momentum of this game changed. Jasmyn Burns would single and pass the baton to Mia Williams would also single. Two runners
on and two outs for Taylor Pannell who also singled and it was now an 8-4 lead for the Rebels. Desirae Spearman would work a very close walk to load the bases. And now a moment that would resonate in Red Raider history as Lauren Allred walked up to bat.
Allred saw the first pitch and drove opposite field for a grand slam to tie it up 8 runs a piece all of which were scored with two outs.
NiJaree Canady would check back into the circle to keep the game at 8-8. Canady would lose the battle to Bunker again by allowing a leadoff single to her. Then Pickens would put down a sacrifice bunt to move Bunker to second. Llamas Persy would hit a single to left center. As fast as the Red Raiders came back in the 7th, Ole Miss struck back to put the pressure back on to Texas Tech.
Canady got out of trouble and Terry, Lis and Burns were up in the bottom of the 8th. Terry and Lis walked, causing a mound visit
and pitching change.
Lilly Whitten would have to come in to try to get three outs and secure a win for the Rebels. Jasyn Burns greeted Whitten with a hard single up the middle which scored Terry. Lis moved to second and with no outs. Williams sent a ball screaming, but it was caught short at the warning track which advanced Lis to third. Taylor Pannell had the winning run 60 feet away and what was thought to be impossible could be a reality.
Pannell drove a pitch to deep right field, Lis tagged up and on a late throw was easily safe at home.
Red Raiders win 10-9 to advance to the Lubbock Regional Finals.
Head Coach Gerry Glasco talked about how it was all player driven. “There wasn’t anything smart from the coaching, the kids did that all are their own.” Glasco said with a big smile.
Texas Tech will play Ole Miss for a chance to win their second straight regional. First pitch 3 p.m. central on May 17, 2026 at Tracy Sellers Field.