Red Raiders Leave No Doubt. Texas Tech Wins Lubbock Regional
Texas Tech dominates Ole Miss in a 14-2 run rule win to capture another NCAA Regional win and berth to the NCAA Super Regional. After Saturday’s comeback win the Red Raiders only needed to win one of two games against Ole Miss to secure the Regional title.
Terry got the starting nod in the circle and was stellar through her first two frames. No runs and no hits with the only blemish being three batters hit by pitch. Iin the Top of the 2nd she received run support. A Mihyia Davis single followed by a Lauren Allred double put two runners on the corners again for Tech. Lis would break the seal by roping a 2 RBI single down the 1st base line. The Red Raiders would lead 2-0.
Fast forward to the Top of the 3rd and this is when Texas Tech would break it open on Ole Miss. Pannell reached on a fielding by the Ole Miss second baseman due to the west Texas wind. A sign of what was in store for the Rebels in the 3rd. Terry would follow that up with a single and Davia would continue her good hitting with a RBI single to shallow left field. Tech leads 3-0 with no outs. Lauren Allred, the star from yesterday’s comeback win, would work the walk and it was basesloaded for Desirae Spearman. During Spearman’s at-bat (AB) Boyer would throw a wild pitch which scored Terry. A 4-0 lead for Tech as Spearman ended her AB with a walk. Reloading the bases for Lagi Quiroga who also had a wild pitch during AB, scoring Davis in a diving play at the plate. 5-0 Texas Tech with all scoring happening in small ball. Quiroga would pop out in foul territory for the 1st out in the Top of the 3rd.
Jackie Lis discussed the importance of scoring without relying on the long ball “I think it’s really important for us to show everybody that we can win in other ways other than the long ball.” With two runners on for Mia Wiliams as she delivered an RBI single to stretch the lead to 6-0. Tech would continue to pass the baton with another Lis base hit this time a 2 RBI single up the middle. 8-0 Texas Tech with only one out in the inning. The next two batters of Burns and Pannell would both hit singles as the hits piled on for Tech. This would load the bases for Terry as she would deliver with another timely hit as she ripped a single up the middle scoring Lis from third. Still all with only one out recorded the Red Raiders extended their lead to 9-0. Davis would hit a sacrifice fly to make it 10-0 and an 8 run top of the 3rd. Allred would end the inning with a fielder’s choice to second base.
Bottom 3rd the Rebels would get some runs back by starting off with a one out Kennedy Bunker solo shot to straight center field Ole Miss would string together two base runners with a walk and hit by pitch. Madi George would strike out swinging giving Ole Miss two outs. Cassie Reasner would help cut into the Tech lead with a bases clearing double to make it a 10-3 Tech lead. Laylonna Applin would end things quickly by swinging first pitch and popping out to short. That would be the last time Ole Miss plated any more runs for the next two innings.
Texas Tech in the top 4 would get one run by a Jackie Lis ground out that scored Logan Halleman who drew a walk in that inning. In the 5th and final inning for Texas Tech they would add three more runs with a Pannell single, Davis infield hit the pitcher and Allred walked to load the bases. Texas Tech head coach Gerry Glasco would pinch hit NiJaree Canady in and she would rise to the occasion. With the fans chanting her name she roped a double down the left field line to bring across two more runs. Extending the Red Raider lead to 13-3, giving the fans one final at bat. Williams would hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Allred bringing Tech to their final run total of 14 runs.
As the bottom 5th inning approached Terry was still dealing, allowing two hits and 3 runs across 4 scoreless innings. Terry would throw just one more strike before NiJaree Canady would check in. For one final time in front of a home crowd, she would pitch again. Canady walked the first batter she faced on a close call on a full count. Then struck out the next two batters with ease. Canady would let up a single that went off the glove of Toney but retired the final Ole Miss batter Reasner who had two RBIs that day.
Texas Tech had just gotten their 37th run rule victory of the year and scored 24 runs across their last 7 innings against Ole Miss. Head coach Gerry Glasco talked about the trust he has with NiJa and the level of respect for her. “For NiJa to give me 30 days to put together a team.. And then to trust me and come here. That’s just enormous.” said a teary eyed Glasco.
Texas Tech once again punched their ticket to an NCAA Super Regional in Florida but this time in the swamp of Gainesville. It will be Texas Tech vs Florida in a three game series to decide who makes it to the Women’s College World Series.