Texas Tech University Athletics
No. 2/5 Red Raiders secure series and share of Big 12 title
April 25, 2026 | Softball
Gerry Glasco reaches 400 career wins and 100 wins at Tech following 7-5 victory
TEMPE, Arizona – A big day for No. 2/5 Texas Tech softball as they clinched a share of the Big 12 regular season title for the second straight season, Gerry Glasco reached 400 career wins and 100 wins at Tech and Victoria Valdez delivered a clutch hit in the top of the seventh to seal the Red Raiders (46-4, 18-2) 7-5 win over No. 24/RV Arizona State (35-15, 8-12).
NiJaree Canady had the strikeout stuff working today as she finished with nine punchouts while allowing three runs on just three hits as she improved to 19-3 on the year. Mihyia Davis led the offense with two hits and two runs while also drawing a walk.
Taylor Pannell, Victoria Valdez and Davis each picked up an RBI as four of the Red Raiders seven runs came off of errors. Lauren Allred and Hailey Toney picked up hits and Tech's offense as a whole drew six walks and struck out just once.
Valdez's hit was the first of the season for her and could not have come at a better time as she hit a two-out double off All-American Kenzie Brown in the top of the seventh to score Desirae Spearman from first as she used an athletic slide to get around the tag and get the insurance run.
How it Happened:
Only one base hit was recorded by either team through the first two innings before things broke open in the top of the third. Allred reached on an error and Davis a single before another error by the Sun Devils on a ball hit by Terry scored Makayla Garcia who pinch ran for Allred at second. Mia Williams roped a ball through the shortstops glove for another error that scored both Davis and Terry to make it a three-run ball game. Pannell continues to take good swings as she singled to right center field to score Williams and put Tech up 4-0 in the third.
The Sun Devils, on their senior day, responded with a three-run inning thanks to two home runs off the bats of Tanya Windle and Emily Schepp. The Red Raiders got two of those runs back off back-to-back doubles by Allred and Davis. Davis scored from second on a passed ball that she hustled all the way home to make it a 6-3 game.
Arizona State responded again with two runs on a home run by senior Brooklyn Ulrich which prompted the Sun Devils to bring in their All-American Brown to the circle to try and stifle the Red Raider's offense. Brown did so for about two innings before walking Spearman and giving up a double to Valdez that made it a 7-5 ball game and gave Canady and the defense a little more breathing room ahead of the final three outs.
Canady struck out three of the final five batters she faced including two in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win. Arizona State had to the top of its lineup ready to face Canady and try to mount a comeback but the reigning NFCA Pitcher of the Year was able to make the big pitches when it mattered most.
UP NEXT: No. 2/5 Red Raiders will take on No. 24/RV Arizona State in the series finale tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT.
NiJaree Canady had the strikeout stuff working today as she finished with nine punchouts while allowing three runs on just three hits as she improved to 19-3 on the year. Mihyia Davis led the offense with two hits and two runs while also drawing a walk.
Taylor Pannell, Victoria Valdez and Davis each picked up an RBI as four of the Red Raiders seven runs came off of errors. Lauren Allred and Hailey Toney picked up hits and Tech's offense as a whole drew six walks and struck out just once.
Valdez's hit was the first of the season for her and could not have come at a better time as she hit a two-out double off All-American Kenzie Brown in the top of the seventh to score Desirae Spearman from first as she used an athletic slide to get around the tag and get the insurance run.
How it Happened:
Only one base hit was recorded by either team through the first two innings before things broke open in the top of the third. Allred reached on an error and Davis a single before another error by the Sun Devils on a ball hit by Terry scored Makayla Garcia who pinch ran for Allred at second. Mia Williams roped a ball through the shortstops glove for another error that scored both Davis and Terry to make it a three-run ball game. Pannell continues to take good swings as she singled to right center field to score Williams and put Tech up 4-0 in the third.
The Sun Devils, on their senior day, responded with a three-run inning thanks to two home runs off the bats of Tanya Windle and Emily Schepp. The Red Raiders got two of those runs back off back-to-back doubles by Allred and Davis. Davis scored from second on a passed ball that she hustled all the way home to make it a 6-3 game.
Arizona State responded again with two runs on a home run by senior Brooklyn Ulrich which prompted the Sun Devils to bring in their All-American Brown to the circle to try and stifle the Red Raider's offense. Brown did so for about two innings before walking Spearman and giving up a double to Valdez that made it a 7-5 ball game and gave Canady and the defense a little more breathing room ahead of the final three outs.
Canady struck out three of the final five batters she faced including two in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win. Arizona State had to the top of its lineup ready to face Canady and try to mount a comeback but the reigning NFCA Pitcher of the Year was able to make the big pitches when it mattered most.
UP NEXT: No. 2/5 Red Raiders will take on No. 24/RV Arizona State in the series finale tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT.
Players Mentioned
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P/UTL
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INF/UTL
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P/UTL
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