TALLAHASSEE, FL — Behind a masterful two-hit shutout and a solo home run from NiJaree Canady, No. 12 Texas Tech stunned No. 5 Florida State 3-0 in the opening game of the NCAA Tallahassee Super Regional Thursday night at JoAnne Graf Field.
Canady (29-6) was nearly untouchable in the circle, facing just two batters over the minimum and needing only 79 pitches for her sixth shutout of the season. She didn’t allow a base runner until the fifth inning and worked out of the only Seminole scoring threat with help from a clutch foul-ball catch by left fielder Demi Elder and one of her four strikeouts.
The Red Raiders (49-12) provided early support with a first-inning run sparked by Mihyia Davis, who singled and scored on a double steal. Alana Johnson extended the lead in the fourth with a solo home run to center, her second of the NCAA postseason, before Canady capped the night with a towering leadoff homer in the seventh — her third long ball in the last four games.
Texas Tech’s lineup continued its postseason surge with eight hits, six of which came from the 9-1-2 hitters. Davis went 2-for-4, while Alexa Langeliers and Hailey Toney each went 2-for-3. Langeliers also drew a walk to reach base three times.
The Red Raiders have now recorded 25 shutouts this season — most in the NCAA — and are 30-1 when scoring in the first inning. The victory marks the program’s first-ever Super Regional win and puts Tech just one victory away from its first Women’s College World Series berth.
Game two of the best-of-three series is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT Friday on ESPN2.
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