Star pitcher Canady allowed just one run and five hits across the Red Raiders’ back-to-back wins in the Tallahassee Super Regional.
In one of the most dramatic and unexpected turns of this year’s NCAA Softball Tournament, No. 12 seed Texas Tech stunned perennial powerhouse No. 5 Florida State to punch its first-ever ticket to the Women’s College World Series. The Red Raiders were carried by the brilliance of ace pitcher NiJaree Canady, who delivered two dominant performances that will be etched into program history.
Over the course of the Tallahassee Super Regional, Canady allowed just one run and five hits across 14 innings, as Texas Tech secured back-to-back wins over the Seminoles, 3-1 and 2-0. The right-handed sophomore was nearly untouchable, mixing velocity, movement, and poise on the mound against one of the most dangerous lineups in the nation.
“I’m just proud of this team,” Canady said following Saturday’s clinching victory. “We came here believing in each other, and we’re going to Oklahoma City because we never stopped believing.”
Dominant from the Start
In Friday’s Game 1, Canady set the tone early, striking out the side in the first inning and retiring the first nine batters she faced. The Red Raiders gave her just enough run support, capitalizing on a throwing error and a clutch RBI double from junior outfielder Maddie Westbrook in the fifth inning. Florida State managed a solo home run in the sixth—its only run of the series—but Canady shut the door with a 1-2-3 seventh, finishing with nine strikeouts and just three hits allowed.
“NiJaree was electric,” head coach Craig Snyder said. “She set the tone, and the rest of the team followed. Her focus, her grit—she’s the reason we’re here.”
A Historic Shutout
Game 2 was a classic pitchers’ duel until Texas Tech broke through with two runs in the top of the sixth. Sophomore infielder Kayla Becker drove in the go-ahead run with a single to right, and freshman slugger Tori Sanders added insurance with a sharp RBI grounder that skipped past the FSU shortstop.
Canady handled the rest.
Despite Florida State loading the bases in the bottom of the sixth, the Texas Tech ace struck out two straight and induced a weak grounder to escape the jam. In the seventh, she retired the side in order, sparking a jubilant on-field celebration as the Red Raiders completed the unthinkable: sweeping a top-five seed on the road to clinch a spot in Oklahoma City.
Program-Defining Moment
For a Texas Tech program that had never advanced past the Super Regional round, the victory marked a turning point. Under Snyder’s leadership, the Red Raiders have steadily climbed the ranks, but this postseason has been their coming-out party.
“This is a moment these girls will remember forever,” Snyder said. “And it’s just the beginning for this program.”
Canady’s performance was emblematic of Texas Tech’s fearless postseason run. Already named a finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, she now adds a super regional MVP-like performance to her growing résumé. Across the NCAA Tournament so far, Canady has allowed just three runs in five appearances, with 47 strikeouts over 33 innings.
The Road Ahead
Texas Tech now heads to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, where they will face off against No. 1 seed Texas in an all-Lone Star State opening round showdown. The Longhorns swept Texas Tech during the regular season, but the Red Raiders aren’t the same team they were in March.
“Everyone counted us out,” said senior catcher Emma Garcia. “But we’ve got heart, and we’ve got NiJaree.”
The Red Raiders will need both to continue their Cinderella run. But with Canady in the circle and momentum firmly on their side, Texas Tech has proven it can hang with— and beat— the nation’s best.
Legacy in the Making
No matter how the World Series unfolds, NiJaree Canady has already cemented her place in Texas Tech lore. Her two-game masterpiece against Florida State will be remembered as the performance that changed everything for the Red Raiders.
“She’s not just a great pitcher,” Snyder said. “She’s a leader, a competitor, and the heart of this team.”
With Canady leading the charge, Texas Tech’s future looks as bright as ever. For now, the Red Raiders can revel in a moment that once seemed impossible: they are headed to Oklahoma City.
