Texas Tech's Pitching Shuffle in WCWS Final Backfires with Early Change

OKLAHOMA CITY — In Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series final, Texas Tech's coach Gerry Glasco made a bold decision early on, opting to replace Kaitlyn Terry with ace NiJaree Canady after a rocky start. Terry's outing came to an abrupt end after she allowed a two-run homer to Texas player Katie Stewart, a powerful hit that soared 263 feet into center field with an impressive exit velocity of 80.8 mph.

Before Canady took the mound, Terry had already faced challenges, surrendering singles to Viviana Martinez and Hannah Wells. In total, she managed only 16 pitches over 0.2 innings before Glasco turned to Canady. Unfortunately for the Red Raiders, Canady's entrance didn’t stem the tide; she quickly allowed a single followed by a base-clearing triple from Ashton Maloney, pushing Texas to a 5-1 lead by the end of the first inning.

This season, Texas Tech has frequently utilized a unique strategy that involves alternating between their two star pitchers, Canady and Terry, thanks to a specific rule about designated and flex players. This approach has allowed the team to take advantage of both pitchers’ strengths, as they both rank among the top 20 nationally for ERA, each below 1.86, and have collectively accumulated 421 strikeouts.

In the wake of the early struggles, Canady was replaced by freshman Samantha Lincoln in the third inning. Lincoln has shown promise this season with a 3.43 ERA and an undefeated record of 7-0, striking out 66 batters in 71 innings. Meanwhile, Terry, who switched to designated player after her removal, has proven herself as a strong hitter, boasting a .438 batting average with 84 hits and 10 home runs this season.

Canady, who is the highest-paid player in college softball this year with over $1 million in NIL earnings from Texas Tech’s Matador Club, was brought in as part of a high-profile transfer strategy that also saw other notable players join the team. The changes made on the field reflect a broader trend of ambitious recruitment aimed at elevating Texas Tech's performance in competitive play.