Texas Tech walloped Mississippi State with an 8-0 run-rule victory in the opening game of the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City on Thursday.
Mihyia Davis’ line-drive single to right field capped a four-run fifth to give the Red Raiders (58-7) their first mercy rule win in the WCWS and their 37th this season.
The lunchtime WCWS game was the first in the history of Mississippi State’s softball program, and it tipped to the Red Raiders almost immediately.
Jackie Lis roped her 21st home run of the season in the first inning and the 2-0 lead was all Texas Tech required to advance Tennessee (3 p.m. ET) in a rematch of their 2025 WCWS semifinal won by the Red Raiders.
Lis was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Texas Tech chased Mississippi State starter Alyssa Faircloth (16-8) after 1 1/3 innings.
The offensive breakthrough is already a positive sign for the Red Raiders, who had a total of eight runs in four WCWS games and finished as national runner-up to Texas in 2025.
It also eased the burden on starting pitcher NiJaree Canady, who combined with fellow All-American Kaitlyn Terry on a two-hit shutout.
Canady (26-6) notched her 101st college victory by allowing two hits with three strikeouts in four innings.
She slammed the door on the only near rally for the Bulldogs in the fourth. A walk put Kinley Keller aboard and bumped Morgan Stiles into scoring position, but Canady easily escaped trouble. Stiles and Keller had the only hits for Mississippi State (43-20).
Mississippi State faces Texas on Friday night in an elimination game scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET. The SEC foes did not play in the regular season, when Mississippi State had a 9-15 conference record.
–Field Level Media
