Texas, Texas Tech Clash For 2025 Women's College World Series Title
Wednesday, June 4 starts the championship series in Oklahoma City with Texas facing Texas Tech in a best-of-three matchup. Both Texas and Texas Tech had to outlast six other softball teams to reach the championship series in Oregon, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Florida, UCLA, and Oklahoma.
Texas defeated Florida 3-0 to open the World Series on May 29, as first baseman Joley Mitchell and left fielder Katie Stewart blasted three home runs off Gators' sophomore pitcher Keagan Rothrock in the win.
Texas softball players before an NCAA softball Women's College World Series game against Oklahoma, ... More Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
Texas went on to defeat Oklahoma, their arch nemesis at the World Series on Saturday, May 31, 4-2. The Sooners gave up uncharacteristic first inning runs off a throwing error and a sacrifice from Texas catcher Reese Atwood. In the fifth and sixth, Kayden Henry and Mitchell made Oklahoma ace Sam Landry pay and sent balls into the outfield crowd.
This was all the fuel that sophomore pitcher Teagan Kavan needed as she threw the complete game with eight strikeouts, one walk and only conceded one earned run. Kavan also revealed in the post game interview that she lost her grandmother earlier that morning and the win was for her.
Texas infielder Joley Mitchell (9) hits a home run during an NCAA softball Women's College World ... More Series game against Oklahoma, Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Oklahoma City. Texas won 4-2. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
Texas had traditionally struggled to beat the Sooners, as they were 1-11 against OU until Saturday. There was also a bit of extra motivation for the Longhorns as they had previously been swept by the Sooners for the title in 2022 and 2024.
Texas then faced Tennessee on Monday, June 2 and the Lady Vols had to beat the Longhorns twice, as they had previously lost to Oklahoma on Thursday, May 29, 4-3.
Although the Lady Vols had battled back from their opening loss to OU and sent UCLA to the loser's bracket in five innings, 11-3 on Sunday, they ultimately fell to Texas, 2-0. Texas scored off a solo home run from Stewart in the fourth and then again in the sixth off a throwing error from Tennessee third baseman Taylor Pannell.
For the Texas Tech Red Raiders, they opened the World Series with a 1-0 win over Ole Miss. In the win, Alana Johnson roped a double down the left field line to score teammate Lauren Allred. This would be all the run support that ace NaJaree Canady needed as she threw a complete game shut out with 10 strikeouts and only conceded two hits, both in the sixth inning.
Texas Tech starting pitcher/relief pitcher NiJaree Canady (24) during an NCAA softball Women's ... More College World Series game against Mississippi, Thursday, May 29, 2025 in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
Tech went on to face and defeat UCLA, 3-1 on Saturday, May 31. Tech was the significant underdog in the matchup as UCLA has been to the World Series a record 33 times and are 12 time champions, most recently in 2019.
The Red Raiders seemed unfazed by the big moment as head coach Gerry Glasco called a gutsy delayed home steal in the fifth inning for Tech's first run. UCLA would also score in the fifth inning off a home run from Kaniya Bragg to tie the game, 1-1.
Texas Tech scored again in the sixth off a solo home run from shortstop Hailey Toney and in the seventh when Raegan Jennings singled to left center and scored Alana Johnson who had walked previously in the inning.
Canady again showed her dominance in the circle as she threw all seven innings for the Red Raiders and allowed four hits, two walks, and struck out seven batters.
Fans cheer during an NCAA softball Women's College World Series game between UCLA andTexas Tech, ... More Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Oklahoma City. Texas Tech won 3-1. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
In their final game in route to the championship series, Texas Tech faced the ultimate Goliath in Oklahoma, the four-time consecutive NCAA champions. The Red Raiders got out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as outfielder Demi Elder ripped a triple to right field which scored Johnson, who walked in the previous at bat. Then third baseman Bailey Lindemuth singled to left center and scored Elder.
There would be a pitching dual and battle for the remaining four innings between Canady and Oklahoma's Sam Landry but in the seventh inning, when only three outs remained, Oklahoma would tie the game. Outfielder Abby Dayton blasted a high change up over the right field fence and broke up Canady's shutout. Dayton had previously only hit two home runs all season.
The Red Raiders won in the bottom of the seventh as Mihyia Davis singled, followed by a double to the left field wall from Lindemuth, to put runners on the corners. Toney would once again be the hero for the Red Raiders as she sent a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Davis for the win, 3-2.
Texas Tech pitcher NaJaree Canady celebrates on the mound. The Red Raiders defeated No. 2 overall ... More NCAA seed Oklahoma to head to the championship series against Texas starting Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
Texas is seeking redemption as they have been in the championship series three times since 2022, but have yet to capture the elusive title. Canady had taken Stanford to the World Series in 2023 and 2024, but transferring to Texas Tech and playing for Glasco has allowed her to get to the title series for the first time.
There has never been an in-state championship series. The only time two teams from the same state have faced off for the national title were when Fresno State and UCLA (1982, 1988, 1989, 1990) and UCLA and Cal (2003) competed in what was a single game showdown.
The first game of the series will take place on Wednesday, June 4 at 8 pm EST on ESPN, followed game two on Thursday, June 5 at 8 pm EST also on ESPN. The if necessary game is slated for Friday, June 6 at 8 pm EST on ESPN.
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