The Texas Tech Red Raiders play the first game of the Women’s College World Series on Thursday. They’re hoping for a win over Mississippi State.
The Red Raiders are hoping for a win in the final game of the WCWS, too.
Texas Tech reached the WCWS for the first time last year and reached the best-of-three championship series before losing to Texas in three games. This year, the Red Raiders are trying to finish the job.
Here are three ways to get it done.
Lean on Pitching
The numbers for NiJaree Canady and Kaitlyn Terry didn’t have a great super regional. The pair gave up eight runs in the Game 1 win over Florida, 10 runs in the Game 2 loss and then seven runs in the decisive third game. Texas Tech was able to score 16 runs in that game. Florida was a great hitting team, so it’s not a surprise they were able to post big numbers in that series.
Still, Canady and Terry both have the stuff to dominate in a tournament like this especially if they can be used in tandem and in the right matchups. For the season, they’ve been terrific. Terry is 24-1 with a 1.68 ERA and 158 strikeouts. Canady is 25-6 with a 1.78 ERA with 226 strikeouts. If the pair pitch like that — or reasonably close to that — for the series the Red Raiders have a real shot of reaching the championship series.
Clobber the Softball
Of course, Tech could just slug their way out of the WCWS. It worked in Florida. There are few lineups in the WCWS equipped with the kind of power the Red Raiders have. Eight battetrs — seven of them considered qualified hitters, have 10 or more home runs.
The list includes Mia Williams (24), Jackie Lis (20), Jasmyn Burns (17), Desirae Spearman (13), Taylor Pannell (12), Lagi Quiroga (12), Kaitlyn Terry (10) and Lauren Allred (10). Three of those qualified hitters — Terry, Lis and Williams — are batting .435 or better. Another with a little less slug, Mihyia Davis, is batting .431 with nine home runs.
There is even speed. Davis has a team-leading 37, while Williams has 21. Tech has sluggers, contact hitters and batters that have speed to get into scoring position by themselves. It’s a runaway train waiting to happen.
Get Revenge Along the Way
A team trying to win a national championship is going to look for motivation from everywhere it can get it. There is motivation sitting in their half of the bracket.
The other game in their bracket is between Tennessee and Texas. The Longhorns beat the Red Raiders in three games to win the national championship last season. If Texas Tech and Texas win their first games, each gets a day off before a rematch.
That’s the kind of motivation that can help any team looking to win its opening game of a tournament like this.
Women’s College World Series
May 28 – June 4/5
Devon Park in Oklahoma City, OK
(all times central)
Thursday, May 28
Game 1 | 11 a.m. | No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Mississippi State | ESPN
Game 2 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 Tennessee | ESPN
Game 3 | 6 p.m. | No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 2 UCLA | ESPN2
Game 4 | 8:30 p.m. | No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 2 Arkansas | ESPN2
Friday, May 29
Game 5 | Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 6 p.m. on ESPN2 (elimination game)
Game 6 | Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2 (elimination game)
Saturday, May 30
Game 7 | Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 2 p.m. on ABC
Game 8 | Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m. on ESPN
Sunday, May 31
Game 9 | Game 8 loser vs. Game 5 winner, 2 p.m. on ABC (elimination game)
Game 10 | Game 7 loser vs. Game 6 winner, 6 p.m. on ESPN2 (elimination game)
Monday, June 1
Game 11 | Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 11 a.m. on ESPN
Game 12 | Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 1:30 p.m. on ESPN (if necessary)
Game 13 | Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 6 p.m. on ESPN2
Game 14 | Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2 (if necessary)
Wednesday, June 3
Remaining Two Teams from Games 11-14 Play in best-of-three series
Championship Series Game 1 | 7 p.m. on ESPN
Thursday, June 4
Championship Series Game 2 | 7 p.m. on ESPN
Friday, June 5
Championship Series Game 3 | 7 p.m. on ESPN (if necessary)
