Texas Tech Red Raiders – Official Athletics Website

LUBBOCK, Texas – The first Big 12 Regular Season title in program history was won tonight by the No. 11/12 Red Raiders on Rocky Johnson Field after taking down Arizona State 9-0 and 3-0 in a doubleheader. NiJaree Canady and Chloe Riassetto pitched phenomenally, the offense delivered when they needed to and the defense was a solid as ever.

Canady and Riassetto combined to throw 12.0 shutout innings, allowing just six hits while striking out 13 batters and issuing just four walks in what was a truly dominant performance by both pitchers in the circle.

Middle infielders Hailey Toney and Alexa Langeliers made tough plays to record crucial outs in both games and Victoria Valdez caught two runners stealing which made the middle line of Tech’s defense even tougher.

Senior Demi Elder, who has been with the program all four years, delivered one of the most important hits of the season in game one against the Sun Devils. Although Tech was in no position to lose the game, up 6-0 entering the fifth inning, Elder sent a ball over the right field fence to end the game in run-rule fashion and clinch a share of the Red Raiders first ever Big 12 title.

Sophomore Raegan Jennings delivered a clutch hit in the sixth inning of game two which gave Tech a 1-0 lead and effectively win the game. Lauren Allred, Alana Johnson and Elder all got on base with two outs before Jennings delivered an RBI single on a 2-2 pitch.

How it happened:

Game one –

After a Friday’s postponement, the Red Raiders (39-10, 18-2) had to prepare for another doubleheader at home, something they have become used to this season. NiJaree Canady got the start and collected for 20^th win of the season, becoming just the sixth pitcher in program history to do so, after throwing 4.0 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five batters. Chloe Riassetto came in relief for the final inning and delivered a perfect 11-pitch inning to close out the game.

On offense, Tech broke the game open in the third inning thanks to a double from Mihyia Davis to lead things off. Hailey Toney would single and then steal second to set up runners at second and third with no outs. A wild pitch brought in the first run of the game and a Bailey Lindemuth single into right field would make the Red Raider lead 2-0.

Still with no outs, Tech again had runners on second and third thanks to an Alexa Langliers single and another wild pitch which put Lauren Allred at the plate who would hit a double into the left field gap to drive in two mores and make it 4-0.

Arizona State (33-18, 13-10) made a pitching change following that at-bat and Alana Johnson welcomed the new arm with a home run to center field, making it 6-0 heading into the fourth inning.

After a zero in the fourth inning, Tech looked to close out the game early after a single by Allred and a double by Johnson put runners on second and third, again, this time with one out. Elder, one of just two seniors on the team, kicked off senior weekend with a bang as she crushed a ball over the right field wall to walk-off the Sun Devils and clinch at least a share of the Big 12 title.

Game two –

Arizona State threw their ace, Kenzie Brown in the second game and she was lights out through the first five innings and finishing the game with 11 strikeouts on 124 pitches. Riassetto went toe-to-toe with Brown, throwing 5.1 scoreless innings and allowing just four hits and one walk. The lefty only had three strikeouts but did an excellent job of pitching to contact and forcing weak groundouts and flyouts for a majority of the game.

Tech’s first signs of life on offense came in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with a walk, single and another walk and no outs. Brown showed why she is second in the country in strikeouts however and struck out the next three batters to leave Tech stranded.

The Sun Devils had their first offensive break through in the next half inning as they had runners on first and second with one out. Canady came in relief and after giving up a single – which put runners on first and second – she showed everyone why she was the 2024 National Player of the Year as she struck out the next two batters, both on four pitches, to get out of the jam.

Tech used its momentum from the last half inning to fuel a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth. Allred got hit with a pitch to spark some life from Tech’s dugout before Johnson passed the bat with a single into left field. Elder drew a tough full count walk to bring Raegan Jennings up with two outs and the bases loaded.

Jennings was at the plate in a position that everyone pretends to be in at one point or another, bases loaded in a tie game with two outs and two strikes which a chance to give your team the lead and accomplish something never done in program history. With all that was at stake, Jennings lined ball into left field to break the tie and bring in the eventual game-winning run.

Victoria Valdez followed with a two-RBI single to add some insurance going into the final half inning.

Canady would need no insurance, striking out two of the final three batters to win the game and prompt the presentation of the Big 12 trophy to be brought out to the team and celebrated.

UP NEXT: Tech will close its series with Arizona State tomorrow at noon.