Texas Tech softball coach **Gerry Glasco** faced a tough decision heading into Friday’s Big 12 opener against No. 13 Oklahoma State. His star pitcher, **NiJaree Canady**, was nursing a “soft tissue” injury, raising doubts about her availability. Despite the uncertainty, Glasco opted to start Canady in the first game of the doubleheader—with one key instruction: *“We didn’t want strikeouts.”*
The goal was to limit Canady’s pitch count and rely on the defense to make plays. While Canady still managed three strikeouts in four innings, she visibly struggled, particularly after fielding a grounder. Texas Tech cruised to a 9-0 victory in five innings, but Glasco remained cautious.
With a record-breaking crowd of 2,122 fans at Rocky Johnson Field—many wearing Canady jerseys—the pressure was on. Glasco leaned on reliever **Chloe Riassetto** to start the second game, and she delivered four scoreless innings. However, with Texas Tech clinging to a 2-0 lead in the fifth, Glasco made the bold move to bring Canady back to the circle.
Canady, though not at full strength, dominated, striking out four and allowing just one hit over four innings to secure the doubleheader sweep. Combined, she pitched seven innings across both games, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out seven.
*“She’s not comfortable at all,”* Glasco said of Canady. *“To come out and give that kind of effort, to play while you don’t feel your best, that’s a rare thing anymore. She was just, wow.”*
Canady downplayed her injury, crediting her teammates for their offensive support. In the first game, **Bailey Lindemuth** hit a two-run homer to seal the win, while **Lauren Allred** and **Alexa Langeliers** provided early runs in the second game. Lindemuth also shined defensively, teaming up with **Logan Halleman** on a crucial play to preserve a shutout.
The doubleheader sweep marked Texas Tech’s first series win over Oklahoma State since 2016 and improved their record to 4-4 against ranked teams this season—a stark contrast to last year’s 1-13 mark. The historic crowd and strong performance signaled a program on the rise, fulfilling the vision Glasco and Canady had when they arrived in Lubbock.
*“Just to see that happen for the first series,”* Canady said, *“I’m excited for what’s to come.”*
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