In an epic game that brought to an end an epic run in the NCAA Women’s College World Series, No. 12 Texas Tech defeated No. 2 Oklahoma, 3-2, in the semifinal round on Monday in Oklahoma City to advance to the championship series against No. 6 Texas.
In a taut thriller that featured a brilliant performance by Red Raiders pitcher NiJaree Canady and a game-tying homer by Oklahoma’s Abigale Dayton with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Texas Tech emerged victorious thanks to Lauren Allred’s walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame.
The Oklahoma loss ended a historic streak of nine consecutive appearances in the WCWS Finals, including championships in each of the past four years. And the team that defeated the dynastic powerhouse continues its inspired run in its first WCWS appearance.
Canady, who led Stanford to back-to-back WCWS appearances in the past two years and is the reigning USA Softball Collegiate Pitcher of the Year, shut down the Sooners’ lineup through the first six innings. She was staked to a 2-0 lead thanks to an RBI triple by Demi Elder and an RBI single by Bailey Lindemuth in the second.
After the Red Raiders took the lead, some prominent Texas Tech alumni made their excitement known on social media. Patrick Mahomes, the superstar quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs who is himself no stranger to winning with his three Super Bowl championships, didn’t need words in his social media post -- just “!! !! !!”
Former MLB left-handed pitcher and current television color analyst Dallas Braden, who was drafted by the A’s out of Texas Tech in 2004, chimed in on social media as well. “The ladies of @TexasTechSB have come out aggressive at the dish & on the base path!” his post read.
With Canady on the mound, things were looking great for the Red Raiders. But in the top of the seventh, down to their final strike, the Sooners got a game-tying two-run homer off the bat of Dayton, the No. 9 hitter in Oklahoma’s lineup.
Texas Tech, however, would not be denied. In the bottom of the seventh, Mihyia Davis singled and moved to third on a double by Hailey Toney. Allred then hit a fly ball to right and Davis tagged from third. The fleet-footed Davis bolted home and beat the throw with a head-first slide that sent her team to the championship series.
With the win, Texas Tech became the first team to reach the WCWS Finals in its tournament debut since 2000, when Oklahoma knocked off defending champion UCLA to win it all.
The 2025 Women’s College World Series Finals begin with Game 1 between Lone Star State rivals Texas Tech and Texas on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at OGE Energy Field at Devon Park. The best-of-three series will continue with Game 2 on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. And, if necessary, a decisive Game 3 will be held on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. All telecasts will be on ESPN.
Manny Randhawa is a reporter for MLB.com based in Denver.