OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma – Texas Tech (43-12) shut out the No. 8 seed Baylor Bears (27-27) 4-0 on Thursday in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Championship at Devon Park. NiJaree Canady allowed just one hit as Tech’s offense came through in the fifth inning to secure the win.
 
The Red Raiders recorded their 20^th win in the Big 12 Championship and their first shutout win since 2017 when they shutout Iowa State.
 
Canady improved to 24-5 on the year as she rode a perfect game into the sixth inning before giving up a hit. The Big 12 Pitcher of the Year finished her 6.2 innings of work with 13 strikeouts – seven of which were consecutive, striking out the side twice in the second and third innings.
 
Mihyia Davis had a little-league home run in the fifth inning after reaching on a single and then coming all the way home on an error by the Bears’ outfield.
 
How it happened:
Canady immediately proved why she was the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year as she struck out eight of the first 10 batters she faced and struck out the side in the second and third innings. The junior finished with 13 strikeouts and held a perfect game going into the sixth inning.
 
Neither team had it easy on offense as Baylor’s Lillie Walker was having an impressive game of her own, getting Tech to pop out and not allowing much solid contact.
 
That changed in the fourth inning when Alexa Langeliers picked up Tech’s first hit of the day on a single into left field. Nothing came of that hit, but solid contact from Langeliers followed by a hard-hit line drive by Alana Johnson gave the Red Raider bats some confidence.
 
That confidence carried over the fifth inning after Canady drew a lead-off walk and Makayla Garcia came in to run for her. Logan Halleman followed that at-bat as a pinch hitter and executed a perfect bunt single that got runners at first and second with no outs.
 
Freshman Hailey Toney then delivered her team-leading fifth sac bunt of the season to push runners over to second and third which brought up Demi Elder who drove in a run on a fielder’s choice with some help from a Baylor error.
 
With runners on the corners, Davis smoked a ball into right field for an RBI single but would then come all the way home to score as the Baylor defender couldn’t corral the ball and let it roll all the way to wall allowing Elder to score from first followed shortly after by Davis to put Tech up 4-0.
 
Baylor loaded the bases in their half of the seventh inning, but Canady shutdown any chances of a comeback to advance Tech to the semifinals to take on No. 5 seed Arizona State.
 
UP NEXT: The Red Raiders will take on the No. 5 seeded Sun Devils at 3 p.m. tomorrow for a spot in the Big 12 Championship game.
 

TAMPA, Fla. – Charlotte Softball concluded the 2025 season with a heartbreaking loss to in-state rival ECU, 4-3, in the quarterfinals of the American Conference Tournament. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Niners struck first, scoring two in the bottom of the third when Jenna Lord came through with an RBI double that scored Olivia Williams and London Dirks. 

ECU answered back in the top of the fourth when Anna Sawyer blasted a ball to right center to put the game at 2-1. 

The Pirates went on to even the game an inning later in the fifth after taking a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and one out. A batter later, Anna Sawyer earned another RBI flying out to center to give ECU the lead, 3-2. 

In the top of the sixth, Emma Jackson singled to shortstop to score Joie Fittante to extend the Pirates lead, 4-2. 

In the bottom of the seventh, the Niners put together a little rally to get within one. The inning began with a bunt single from Christina Wellen. Two batters later, Olivia Williams reached safely on a fielder’s choice to put two runners on. With two runners on and two outs, Jenna Lord hit an RBI single to right field to score Wellen and move Williams to third. Initially, Williams was called out at third which would have ended the game, but after a successful challenge from Charlotte, the Niners continued. Charlotte managed to get runners on second and third, but a fly out to short concluded the game and allowed ECU to win, 4-3. 

Brooke Bowling got the start in the circle, pitching 4.1 innings and only allowing two hits. Aubrey Yarnall came in relief and pitched the remaining 2.2 innings, only allowing two hits. 

For the Pirates, Taylor Apple pitched a complete game. 

UP NEXT

With the loss tonight, the Niners’ season has officially come to an end. In Courtney Breault‘s first season, the Niners finished over .500 overall and in conference play, and hit 30 wins ending the season with a 30-27 record. 

FOLLOW THE TEAM

Stay up to date with everything Charlotte Softball by following the team on X (Formerly Twitter) @CharlotteSB and Instagram and Facebook @CharlotteSoftball.

DALLAS – Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning addressed the “confusing” state of college football while providing a positive outlook on the future of the sport in regards to the strong people it can build. Lanning spoke on the topic as he was awarded the prestigious Stallings Award for humanitarianism at the Dallas Country Club on a sentimental Tuesday evening.

“I think everybody in this room realizes football is confusing right now, especially at the college level,” Lanning said as he accepted his award. “There’s a lot of us that might not love everything about college football, but I will tell you this, as confusing as it is, it’s an unbelievable sport that has the opportunity to influence, build, and grow young men into unbelievable humans.”

College football has experienced massive changes since the NCAA enacted a new policy allowing athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) in 2021. The transfer portal adds another layer to the seismic differences in the landscape. Now, a college head coach is tasked with juggling recruiting, transfers, NIL deals… all while attempting to create a stable and winning culture the breeds great people and athletes.

“The path might be different. It’s not necessarily harder, but the path might be different,” Lanning said. “So we’ll continue to adjust, to compete to be the best of the best. And I’m not talking about on the field. I’m talking about what we’re able to do off the field. I’m talking about every one of us in this room, our ability to influence others.”

Lanning’s ability to adjust and connect with his players through his transparency stands out among the rest. Lanning made history to become the first Oregon coach to win the Stallings Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership, character and achievement in college football.

The Stallings award is unique in it’s the only coach-selected honor in a recognition of peers. Two of the previous winners of the award, former Texas Longhorns coach Mack Brown and former TCU coach Gary Patterson attended and celebrated Lanning’s achievements.

Patterson and Brown weighed in on why they think Lanning is thriving in the ever-changing college football landscape.

“Eugene a great place, and (Lanning) treats people right,” Patterson told Oregon Ducks on SI reporter Bri Amaranthus. “Everybody inside of the business knows who the best coaches are, who the good people are, and Coach Lanning fits both those categories.”

Brown addressed Oregon’s relationship with Nike and co-founder Phil Knight, while maintaining that Lanning’s success goes beyond it.

“Oregon has a very aggressive and passionate fan base, and they have tremendous facilities,” Brown told Amaranthus. “Mr. Phil Knight is a friend of ours, and there’s no better booster in America. He’s a guy who’s gonna make sure that they have every advantage at Oregon, the same they have at Ohio State and Texas and Georgia and Alabama and all over the country.”

“We also have seen that money is not the only thing you have to have. You have to have charisma. You have to have energy. You have to have knowledge. You have to have a plan. And Dan’s got all of it,” Brown continued.

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Lanning’s reliability is huge recruiting tool for the Ducks. As his name gets thrown in the hat for new job opportunities, Lanning has reiterated over and over that he wants to be Oregon’s coach for as long as the Ducks will have him.

Eugene has become home for Dan, Sauphia and their three boys Caden, Kniles, and Titan. What does Eugene mean to Lanning?

“Everything,” Lanning told Amaranthus. “It is one of the things I didn’t know when I got to Eugene, and I’ve absolutely fallen in love with it. That’s become really special. We wanted to find a place where not only we could coach, but an opportunity to compete to win, and we could raise our kids. And we totally love it. Not just the people, but the topography.”

Lanning said his family loves taking advantage of the proximity to the coast, mountains and often hikes Spencer’s Butte.

The Ducks experienced even more change in 2024 as new members of the expanded 18-team Big Ten Conference. Lanning is fresh off leading the Ducks to a Big Ten championship in their inaugural year in the conference. Lanning and the Ducks achieved the first 13-0 start in program history, earning the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff and a berth in the Rose Bowl. 

College football will continue to adjust as new iterations to NIL, transfer portal and the College Football Playoff are suggested. Lanning plans to stay flexible as the shifts continue.

Alabama is working toward scheduling a game with St. John’s in Madison Square Garden in November, per Yeah Alabama, the university’s official NIL collective. The two programs are 2-2 all-time against each other and last met in 1982.

Shortly after Yeah Alabama’s announcement, CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported that the two are planning to meet on Nov. 8. Moreover, St. John’s is expected to visit Birmingham, Alabama, in the 2026-27 season.

The showdown on Nov. 8 should be one of the most highly anticipated non-conference matchups of the 2025-26 season. Alabama posted a 28-9 overall record last season and reached the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season.

Although Alabama is losing several stars to the NBA this offseason and took numerous hits in the transfer portal, the Crimson Tide are still expected to be in the hunt for a national championship next season. After all, Alabama didn’t sit back and wallow in self-pity after its losses.

Instead, the Crimson Tide attacked the transfer portal. They’ve picked up four players thus far this offseason, including standouts such as Jalil Bethea, Noah Williamson and Taylor Bol Bowen. Additionally, Alabama has three incoming four-star freshman.

While Alabama is expected to be in the race for the national title next season, St. John’s will likely be a frontrunner. Head coach Rick Pitino and Co. have reeled in seven players via the portal this offseason, including coveted talents like Ian Jackson and Bryce Hopkins.

To pile on, St. John’s is returning star center Zuby Ejiofor, who was instrumental in the Red Storm’s run to winning the Big East regular season title and conference tournament championship. If all goes according to plan, fans can expect an entertaining show in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 8.

Kentucky and St. John’s to face off in CBS Sports Classic

Alabama isn’t the only SEC team that will get a shot at St. John’s next season. Earlier this week, the CBS Sports Classic revealed that St. John’s will be replacing UCLA in the event and will face off against Kentucky in its inaugural appearance. There’s been no shortage of buzz around the matchup announcement.

“I gotta tell you — and I’m not just saying this because I’m a proud CBS employee — I think you could make the case that the matchup between St. John’s and Kentucky next season is the most highly-anticipated game that we are going to see during the non-conference portion of the schedule,” Jon Rothstein said. “You have two teams that are going to be in the top 11 or 12 to start the season.

“You have Rick Pitino at St. John’s going against his former team in Kentucky. And not just going against his former team in Kentucky, but going against his former captain, Mark Pope, who was a part of that ’96 team that was one of the best teams that I have seen in my lifetime.”

Privacy Manager

Charles Barkley sees helping Jefferson County, Alabama, and donating to HBCUs as a greater cause than spending on NIL contracts for Hugh Freeze’s Tigers on the gridiron and Bruce Pearl’s on the hardwood.

Barkley explained to Dan Dakich on his show why he doesn’t fund his alma mater like Tom Brady does for Michigan or Carmelo Anthony does for Syracuse.

“I just gave ten million dollars to HBCU’s, that stuff is way more important to me,” Barkley noted to Dakich, per OutKick. “I just gave million dollars to ‘Blight’, in my hometown of Brimigham, to rebuild houses. That stuff is way more important to me than joining the cesspool that is college athletics. We’re such a shitty country, Dan. We’ve ruined college athletics, and I don’t wanna even get in that cesspool.

“This notion that you have to come up with tens of millions of dollars to pay kids to play basketball, and have them be free agents every year and transfer to another school and get more money every year. Like, we don’t even get to do that in the NBA. Can you imagine if players in the NBA got to be free agents every year? I’m not opposed to players getting paid, I want to make that clear. But, this notion we gotta give college kids tens of millions of dollars a year, and basketball is the worst because you’re only gonna get a great player for six months. I don’t even see how you’re gonna get the return on investment.”

Barkley said the same thing 11 months ago to Dakich but with a lighter tone.

“My biggest pet peeve, and I’ve told them, y’all can’t call me every year asking for millions of dollars, that’s not gonna happen,” Barkley said. “Ya’ll need to stop. I love Auburn, I love Auburn. But the chances of me going back to black and broke again because I want Auburn to be good in football and basketball, that’s not gonna happen. 

“I love my school, but I don’t love them that much.”

We’ll see if Barkley will crack or if this will become an annual PSA around the end of each scholastic calendar year.