Scouting report, prediction for Texas Tech softball vs. UCLA in WCWS

OKLAHOMA CITY — Things are sure to ramp up a notch or two for the Texas Tech softball team the rest of their time in the Women’s College World Series.

After besting Ole Miss in a 1-0 pitcher’s duel in Thursday’s opener, the Red Raiders (51-12) now turn their attention to UCLA, the No. 9 overall seed in the 2025 NCAA softball tournament. The Bruins got a two-run walk-off home run from Jessica Clements to get by Oregon 4-2 in their first game at Devon Park.

“They’re really good,” Texas Tech head coach Gerry Glasco said of UCLA. “They’ve been here 33 times and that says a lot. This is an every-year event for them. They’re going to know how to handle the pressure. They’re going to know how to handle the moments and they’re enormously talent.”

The Red Raiders and Bruins are set to tangle at 6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN. Here are players to watch, a look at potential pitching matchups and a prediction for the winner’s bracket game.

Players to watch for Texas Tech softball vs. UCLA

UCLA: Jordan Woolery and Megan Grant

The Bruins feature a pair of heavy hitters in Jordan Woolery and Megan Grant, who are both Top 10 nationally in home runs and RBI. Entering the Women’s College World Series, Grant had mashed 25 home runs to Woolery’s 23, while Woolery, the unanimous first-team NFCA All-American at third base, was tied for the national lead with 86 RBI to Grant’s 79.

Marist is the only other team in the country to have two hitters ranked in the top 11 nationally in home runs and Texas is the only other squad to boast two of the top 10 RBI leaders in the country. The Bruins have the bats to make things interesting.

Texas Tech: NiJaree Canady and Alana Johnson

It shouldn’t be a shock that NiJaree Canady leads the Texas Tech players to watch. Now a three-time WCWS participant, Canady is plenty familiar with the pressures of Devon Park. She had no trouble in the opener against Ole Miss, striking out 10 batters in the 1-0 victory.

Alana Johnson is also familiar with the WCWS environment, though her first experience with Washington wasn’t much to write home about. She had one plate appearance as a pinch hitter and didn’t play in losses to Florida State and Stanford (Canady’s old team). She made the most of her return Thursday by delivering a double that resulted in the only run of the game.

Pitching matchup for Texas Tech softball vs. UCLA in WCWS

Canady (31-5) will get the ball again for Texas Tech, and the nation’s leader in ERA (now at 0.86) doesn’t need a ton of run support to get the Red Raiders to the victory.

Texas Tech, though, will have to get a few runs across against the UCLA pitching staff. The Bruins used Katilyn Terry all seven innings in the win over Oregon. They could turn to the sophomore again, but also have junior Taylor Tinsley (15-4, 2.42 ERA) and freshman Addisen Fisher (16-2, 2.59 ERA) to utilize as well.

Texas Tech softball vs. UCLA score prediction

Texas Tech 3, UCLA 2: The key for the Red Raiders will be to generate runs and get some fly balls, something they weren’t able to do against Ole Miss pitcher Aliyah Binford. Even if the UCLA offense does strike against Canady, the damage will likely be minimal, and the offense has shaken off the jitters of Game 1 and should be ready for whatever the Bruins throw their way.