Texas Tech's Pitching Rotation is Crucial Factor in WCWS Dream

LUBBOCK, Texas - Even the most seasoned softball watcher couldn't help but marvel at the lineup gymnastics Texas Tech head coach Gerry Glasco jumped through in the Red Raiders' Game 3 victory over Florida to win the Gainesville Super Regional.

As the No. 6-seed Gators responded from each offensive punch thrown by 11-seed Texas Tech with one of their own, Glasco jabbed back on the defensive end with a string of pitching changes.

And he has two of the best in the country to work with.

Kaitlyn Terry and NiJaree Canady were each named First Team All-Americans this year by multiple publications. Canady added to her sensational career with another season of more than 200 strikeouts, and Terry was arguably the best two-way player in the nation with a batting average higher than .450 and over 20 wins in the circle.

They were equally crucial in the decisive Super Regional victory.

"The biggest difference in the game is that we have two All-American pitchers in Kaitlyn Terry and Nija Canady, and they stepped up today and just - that was the difference."

Terry got the start, and after giving up four runs in the bottom of the first inning, she was replaced by Canady for the first of six total swaps between the star pitchers in the five-inning game. The duo appeared together three times in the same inning, and twice there were two substitutions in a single frame.

Glasco was meticulous with his adjustments for each matchup sequence, with Terry as a lefty and Canady as a powerful righty.

"It had to be the right situation ... and I've been talking to them all year about it," Glasco said about preparing his team for such a rapid pitching rotation.

"I knew in this situation we had so much on the line ... This is the time where I got two All-Americans, Florida's got one All-American. If I can make the move pitcher to pitcher on a hot, muggy day, that could play into our advantage."

Terry finished with 2.0 innings of work, allowing six hits and five runs. Canady threw 3.0 innings and gave up two runs off three hits. The pair combined for five strikeouts and nearly split the game in half when it comes to batters faced (Canady faced 14 to Terry's 13).

It's the definitive rule that separates baseball and softball into completely different sports, especially from a coaching perspective. No team is capable of taking advantage of such rules like Texas Tech is with this one-two punch.

Canady spoke about how the frequent changes took a load of pressure off each other's shoulders, not just physically but also mentally, knowing that great defense and relentless hitting would back them up.

"You just have to trust Coach Glasco," she said.

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Texas Tech now prepares to face Mississippi State, who run-ruled the national champions from four of the last five years, Oklahoma, in Norman, to advance to the Bulldogs' first-ever WCWS.

The Red Raiders know how special of an opportunity it is to compete in Oklahoma City.

"You don't make it to Oklahoma City by accident," Canady said. "That speaks for itself."

"Last year when I got to go, it was like a dream come true for me to get to coach in the World Series," an emotional Glasco said in the postgame presser. "To get to do it again this year is really special."

The Women's College World Series begins Thursday, May 28, with Texas Tech playing Mississippi State at 11 a.m. CT at Devon Park.