Day 2 of the 2025 Big 12 Softball Tournament delivered everything you’d expect from a league full of national contenders—dominant pitching, comeback wins, and a reminder that Oklahoma City can be as cruel as it is magical this time of year.
Here’s a look at the biggest storylines coming out of Thursday’s quarterfinal action at Devon Park.
Brown Deals, Arizona State Advances
Arizona State’s game against Oklahoma State was a grind—it always is when Kenny Gajewski’s squad is involved—but the Sun Devils had the better arm on Thursday.
Kenzie Brown struck out 13 in a gritty complete-game effort, allowing just one run on three hits and keeping Oklahoma State 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Offensively, ASU got just enough—a solo shot from Samantha Swan in the fourth and a sac fly from Tanya Windle in the sixth—to move on with a 2-1 win.
Brown’s emergence gives ASU a real shot at making a run this weekend.
Canady’s Complete Game Gem Lifts Texas Tech
There’s no sugarcoating it—NiJaree Canady is in full postseason form. The Big 12 Pitcher of the Year was nearly untouchable in Texas Tech’s 4-0 win over Baylor, tossing a complete-game one-hitter with 13 strikeouts and no walks. She retired the final 13 batters she faced and never allowed Baylor to find any sort of rhythm.
It was the kind of performance that not only sends your team to the semifinals but sends a message to the rest of the field: Texas Tech isn’t just playing for a conference title—they’re playing like a team that expects to be in Oklahoma City again next month.
Arizona Rallies Late to Take Down UCF
Down 3-0 midway through the game, Arizona looked like it might be headed home early. But the Wildcats clawed back with four unanswered runs to beat UCF 4-3 in a thriller.
Devyn Netz was the story—both on the mound and at the plate. After entering in relief, she threw 5.2 innings and gave up just one earned run, steadying Arizona’s defense and keeping UCF in check. Then, with the game tied in the sixth, she ripped the go-ahead RBI to complete the comeback.
The win sends Arizona to the semifinals, where they’ll face the winner of BYU and Iowa State.
Devon Park Woes Continue for Oklahoma State
The Cowgirls have one of the most consistent postseason resumes in the country—but lately, that success hasn’t translated at Devon Park.
With Thursday’s 2-1 loss, Oklahoma State dropped to 1-8 in their last nine games at the stadium, dating back to the 2023 Women’s College World Series. That stretch includes six straight losses, three of which have come in Big 12 Tournament play.
For a program used to making deep runs, it’s a troubling trend that reared its head again Thursday.
Iowa State’s Power and Poise Sends Them to Semifinal Friday
The nightcap belonged to Iowa State, and not just on the scoreboard. Behind home runs from McKenna Andrews and Tatum Johnson, the Cyclones powered past BYU 4–2 and earned a spot in Friday’s semifinal against Arizona. Andrews’ two-run shot in the fourth was the turning point, flipping a 1-1 tie into a 3-1 Iowa State lead. Johnson’s solo blast in the fifth gave the Cyclones some much-needed breathing room.
And while the long ball got the headlines, Jaiden Ralston’s steady work in the circle made it all stand up. The sophomore right-hander scattered six hits over a complete-game outing, striking out two and allowing just one walk while navigating pressure spots with composure.
With the offense clicking and the pitching staff delivering under pressure, the Cyclones head into Friday with real momentum—and a real shot to knock off Arizona to advance to their first ever Big 12 Championship Game.
