Texas Tech walked-off the Bulldogs in five innings to advance into the WCWS semifinals.
It didn't take long for Texas Tech - the new "villains" of college softball - to assert itself in the 2026 Women's College World Series.
The Red Raiders shut out Mississippi State and finished off a run-rule with a walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning on Thursday to tournament's opening game 8-0.
After a run-rule victory in the winner-take-all Super Regional, Texas Tech's offense picked up where it left off in Oklahoma City.
Mia Williams was hit by the first pitch of the game - her sixth HBP in the last four games. A batter later, Jackie Lis set the tone for the afternoon by hitting her 21st home run of the season to jump out to a lead.
Starting pitcher NiJaree Canady had two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 inning, then Texas Tech added another crooked number in the bottom of the second inning. Miyhia Davis led it off with an infield single, followed by Lauren Allred's run-scoring double down the line. Allred was later driven in on a double by Williams, who added to her single-season RBI record this year.
All of a sudden, the Bulldogs were in a 4-0 hole, but Mississippi State got two base runners on in the top of the fourth inning. Tech eliminated the threat with Allred making a play in right field to end the inning.
Texas Tech went down in order in the third and fourth frames once the Bulldogs called on relief pitcher Peja Goold. The Bulldogs' starter, Alyssa Faircloth, was pulled after allowing four runs on four hits in 1.1 innings.
The Red Raiders made a pitching change of their own as Kaitlyn Terry was brought in to start the fifth. Hailey Toney made a web gem of a play in the 5-6 hole to retire the first batter Terry faced before Texas Tech threw up another zero defensively.
Williams walked to start the bottom of the inning, then got hit in the helmet on a throw down to first base. It resulted in a two-base error as Williams advanced to second with the ball going out of play, then tip-toed to take third as the Mississippi State defense was off-guard. Lis drove her in with a single to left field, putting Texas Tech up 5-0.
Terry joined the party offensively with a single smoked into center field to score Lis from second. She then represented the game-winning mercy-rule run at first base. On a single by Davis squibbed into right field, both runners came around to score to end the ballgame.
Texas Tech advances to the winner's bracket and will play the winner of Texas and Tennessee on Saturday, May 30, at 2 p.m. CT at Devon Park.
