Texas Tech opened the Women’s College World Series by putting Mississippi State away fast, a 8-0 run-rule win Thursday at Devon Park that sent the Red Raiders into the winner’s bracket and left the Bulldogs headed for an elimination game. Jackie Lis delivered the blow that broke it open, launching a two-run home run in the first inning in her first World Series at-bat.
That was enough to give the texas vs mississippi state softball search its urgency on Thursday night: the bracket changed immediately, and the next steps are already set. Texas Tech will play Tennessee at 2 p.m. on Saturday after Tennessee beat Texas 6-3 in the second game of the day, while Mississippi State has to turn around and face Texas on Friday with its season suddenly on the line.
NiJaree Canady made sure the opener never settled into something closer. She threw four scoreless innings, struck out three and allowed only two hits while earning the win to improve to 26-6. Kaitlyn Terry finished the job with one scoreless inning of relief, and the combined effort kept Mississippi State from building any momentum after it finally got its first hit off Canady in the second inning.
The result fit the way Texas Tech has lived much of this season. The Red Raiders improved to 58-7 and entered the tournament with the nation’s best run-rule total at 37, a pace that showed again in Oklahoma City. Lis finished 2-for-3 with three RBI, Mia Williams was hit by a pitch to start the game and later scored, and Williams, Terry, Mihyia Davis and Lauren Allred all drove in runs. Davis went 2-for-3, while Williams and Allred each added doubles.
Canady’s line carried even more weight because it came in her fourth straight Women’s College World Series, part of a career that now stands at 101-23 with 1,103 strikeouts. For Texas Tech, the opener did more than clear one hurdle. It bought a day of rest, kept the Red Raiders in the bracket path they want, and pushed Mississippi State into a Friday game where one loss ends the season.
