Texas Tech Will Play For a National Championship.
Texas Tech takes both games against number one seeded Alabama. In game one they would win
5-4 and in game two they would take it 2-0 with both games only needing the full 7 innings to
complete.
In game one it would be Tech as the designated home team as Kaitlyn Terry would get the
starting nod. Terry would shut down the Crimson Tide offense by going 1-2-3 to start the 1st.
SEC pitcher of the year Jocelyn Briski would do the same to the Red Raiders offense.
Alabama would jump on Terry with back to back singles in the second to make Texas Tech go to
the bullpen. NiJaree Canady would step in and deliver an out. Audrey Vandagriff would hit a
SAC fly to plate the 1st run. Canady would get two strike outs to limit the damage at one run.
In the bottom of the second both Terry and Pannell would single to put a runner in scoring
position. Hailey Toney would deliver with a double roped down the 1st base line to tie the game
at all one run. That would be all they would get as well and we stay tied through the top of the
3rd.
Bottom of the third would see Tech take a one run lead with a Lauren Allred opposite field home
run.
Marlie Giles would hit a home run for Alabama to immediately tie the game at 2 runs.
Jump to the 5th inning where in the bottom of the half of the inning would see the second home
run of the game for Tech. Taylor Pannell would hit a towering home run that Vandagriff was a
foot away from robbing. Tech now leads 4-2 and would hold that lead to the top of the 7th.
In the 7th Jena Young would hit a clutch one out homerun off Kaitlyn Terry to tie the game at 4
runs. It was truly Groundhog Day for the Red Raiders. Canady would get the final two outs to
keep the game tied.
Due up in the bottom for the 7th would be Mia Williams who would hit a moonshot on the 4th
pitch of the at bat to win it. Just like that it was now a winner taking all game in 45 minutes.
Game two would see vintage NiJaree Canady as she would be slated to start in the circle. Tech
would this time be the designated away team. Both Williams and Davis would single to start the
game but no runs would be scored. The Red Raider offense missed a big chance to set the tone
for game 2.
Canady would immediately help in the tone setting as the Alabama offense would go 1-2-3 with
two strike outs.
The second inning would have similar results for both offenses. Going down in order to keep
things knotted at 0-0.
That would be the theme until the 4th inning. Leading off the 4th inning would be Jasmyn Burns.
Burns homered in the game against UCLA. And she would do it again, hitting a laser on the first
pitch. The run seal would be broken and Tech would jump to 1-0 lead.
That one run felt like a big hole for the Bama offense to get out of. As Canady continued to roll
only allowing one hit through 4 innings.
The 5th inning came and went with both offenses falling flat outside of Mihyia Davis’ double in
the top half of the inning.
The top of the 6th would be another inning of hope but nothing to show for it. Both Pannell and
Burns would single to lead off the inning. With no outs Tech would go down in order to make it
another disappointing offensive inning.
Bottom of the 6th would only see Brooke Wells being hit by pitch for the Alabama offense.
Just like that it was the top of the 7th. The top of the order would be due up for Tech. Williams
would pop out to 1st to start the inning. Davis would single to bring up Allred. Allred would hit a
single through the middle which allowed Davis to reach third. On the throw over to third it
would be pulled pretty far and make it to the Tech dugout. Davis would score and Allred
advanced to 3rd. 2-0 Texas Tech.
With one out and a runner on third. Tech would struggle to bring in the run. Stranding Allred
over at 3rd base.
Bottom of the 7th and Alabama had three outs to not avoid the sweep. Marlie Giles would cut the
drama and swing first pitch and pop out to Pannell over at 3rd.
Two outs were left. Second pitch would see Ana Roman ground out to Canady. Two pitches, two
outs for Audrey Vandagriff.
Vandagriff wouldn’t let the Tide down by roping a double to the third base line. Some late
momentum and it started to look like Tech would find themselves in another close game
situation. Well Canady would prove why they brought her to Tech in the 1st place. To get outs.
Taylor would try to tie with one swing but instead a deep fly out to Allred who had to make a
running over the shoulder catch to seal it.
Texas Tech did the unlikely and will now play in the championship series again. And as it
seemed like Groundhog Day for the Red Raiders now was a reality. A rematch of the 2025
championship series.
Tech will take on Texas in game one of the series on Wednesday June 3rd at 7 p.m. CT for a
chance to win the national championship. Both teams pulled off the reverse sweep and now both
have a chance to win it all.
Release provided by Cade Welty Sports Director Texas Tech Athletics