By: Texas Tech Athletics Communications
The Texas Tech Red Raiders moved one step closer to the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) championship series Saturday evening with a 3-1 victory over UCLA at Devon Park. A clutch two-out home run from Hailey Toney and another masterful performance in the circle by NiJaree Canady propelled the Red Raiders (52-12) into Monday’s semifinals, where they await the winner of Sunday’s elimination game between Oklahoma and Oregon.
Toney broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the sixth inning, launching a 3-2 pitch over the right-center fence for her seventh home run of the season—and her third since the start of the NCAA postseason. It was Texas Tech’s first home run of the WCWS, and it came at a critical moment. Canady responded by retiring the Bruins in order in the bottom half to preserve the lead.
“Just this being our first time here as a team and being able to get to the semifinals, it’s a huge accomplishment,” said Canady, who previously led Stanford to back-to-back WCWS semifinal appearances. “But we’re not finished. We’re going for the whole thing.”
The Red Raiders struck first in the fifth with a daring double steal that stunned the crowd and went viral. With two outs and runners on the corners, head coach Gerry Glasco sent Makayla Garcia home as UCLA catcher Alexis Ramirez threw the ball back to the pitcher, unaware Garcia was sprinting toward the plate. She slid in safely, scoring the first run in what Glasco called “a calculated risk.”
“I thought she would just flip it to the pitcher,” Glasco said. “I knew we had to go for it. What I didn’t count on was them just standing there with the ball but it worked.”
UCLA (55-12) responded in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run from Kaniya Bragg, only the second homer Canady has allowed in her WCWS career. The Bruins threatened again in the seventh with back-to-back singles to open the inning, but Canady kept her composure. She induced a pop-up from Bragg, followed by a strikeout and a groundout to escape the jam and secure the win.
Over her two appearances in Oklahoma City, Canady has allowed just one run on six hits across 14 innings, striking out 17. On Saturday, she fanned seven while scattering four hits.
“You’ve got to start everything with NiJaree in the circle,” said Glasco. “She’s just so fantastic. She attacks the strike zone and challenges hitters early. It’s what separates her from most pitchers—she’s dominant even in a tight World Series strike zone.”
Offensively, Texas Tech made the most of its four hits. In the fifth, Lauren Allred led off with a single, followed by a one-out double from Canady. Then came the double steal. In the seventh, Raegan Jennings delivered an insurance run with a two-out, pinch-hit RBI single that scored Alana Johnson from second.
UCLA starter Taylor Tinsley (15-5) allowed only one hit through the first four innings and finished with four hits allowed and two strikeouts in a complete-game effort. Despite a strong outing, the Bruins couldn’t overcome Texas Tech’s timely hitting and aggressive baserunning.
The win extended Texas Tech’s streak of scoring first to 22 consecutive games—the longest active streak in Division I softball. The Red Raiders are now one victory away from a berth in the WCWS Championship Series. First pitch for Monday’s semifinal is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
UCLA will now fight through the elimination bracket, beginning with a matchup against No. 7 seed Tennessee at 2 p.m. Sunday on ABC. No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 16 Oregon will follow at 6 p.m. on ESPN, with the winner facing Texas Tech on Monday.
