Red Raiders edge Arizona softball in battle of Big 12’s best

Texas Tech’s star pitcher and home runs were too much for Arizona softball to overcome.

No. 13 Arizona (37-9, 14-7 Big 12) lost the series’ rubber match 5-2 to No. 14 Texas Tech (36-10, 16-2) on Saturday after getting run-ruled on Friday.

Texas Tech junior pitcher/utility NiJaree Canady (19-5) got her second win of the series, throwing 138 pitches and giving up two earned runs on five hits and four walks over seven innings.

“I’m really proud of the response (Saturday night), I think there were obviously some things we needed to clean up throughout the game, but the fight was incredible. They made her throw 138 pitches,” said UA head coach Caitlin Lowe. “I thought the defense made some really good plays to stop some rallies that we could have gotten into.

“We put ourselves in good situations to really get the big hit and we didn’t always come through, but the fight was there, I don’t think we were overmatched at all, they just got the key hit when they needed it.”

Arizona stranded seven runners and were 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

Texas Tech jumped ahead in the first inning after freshman utility Bailey Lindemuth hit an RBI single.

Then in the third inning they went ahead 2-0 on an RBI bunt.

In the home half of the third, junior outfielder Dakota Kennedy ended the shutout with a solo home run.

“When I actually hit it, I couldn’t believe it,” Kennedy said. “Oh my gosh, I was so excited honestly just to get that hit for my team, I was so excited.”

Arizona tied it up on a sacrifice fly RBI by junior utility Sydney Stewart in the third.

Texas Tech sophomore infielder Lauren Allred hit a 2-run home run in the sixth inning. Then Red Raider senior outfielder Demi Elder hit a solo homer.

In the circle, Netz (17-5) started and went 5 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four. Graduate student Saya Swain relieved her, going 1 1/3 innings of one-hit work.

“Honestly, I think we live for these moments,” Kennedy said. “I think as a team we’re always so excited and ready for these moments, so yeah, I couldn’t be more happy to get like a postseason type experience in the regular season.”

On Friday, Texas Tech evened up the series with a 10-1, five-inning win ending UA’s six-game winning streak.

It’s the first time Arizona has gotten run ruled since May 24 when they fell 8-0 to Oklahoma State in the Super Regionals.

The Red Raiders jumped ahead 4-0 in the first inning after an RBI single, a sacrifice fly and a home run by junior outfielder Mihyia Davis.

Arizona got one back in their first when Netz hit an RBI sac fly.

However, in the third, TT added two more on a sacrifice and a double by senior outfielder Demi Elder. In the fourth, freshman utility Bailey Lindemuth hit an RBI single for the Red Raiders.

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In the fifth, Texas Tech added three more runs.

In the circle, junior Aissa Silva (3-1) got the start but took the loss after only lasting 1/3 of an inning. She gave up four earned runs on two hits and two walks.

Freshman pitcher Ryan Maddox pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits and a walk. Graduate Miranda Stoddard pitched 1 1/3 innings, surrendering three unearned runs as well as a walk and three hits.

Canady got the win, pitching four innings and giving up a hit, no walks and striking out three.

Lowe said facing dominant pitchers like Canady help them level up and get better for future hurlers.

“Sometimes it feels like a video game when you face really good pitching,” Lowe said. “You’re in level one and get on time and then she hits level two and she’s on all sides of the plate and then level three is ‘Let me throw a change up in there, because why not?’ I saw our team walk in and have some of the best at bats that they’ve had all year and to do that and get until one that’s throwing 70-75 miles per hour, with the dirty change up, like, that’s one of the highest levels you can get to as a hitter.”

On Thursday, UA opened up the series with a 2-1 win to snap the Red Raiders’ 11 game winning streak.

Texas Tech opened the scoring with when senior infielder Alexa Langeliers drove in a run on a single.

Arizona responded in the home first when Netz hit a 2-run home run.

Stoddard started the game, pitching two innings, giving up a run on three hits and no walks. Netz relieved her, going five innings, surrendering three hits and no walks or runs while striking out five.

Canady pitched six innings, giving up five hits, two walks and two earned runs with seven strikeouts.

Arizona is 12-4 all-time against Texas Tech, having not played the Red Raiders since 2011 and never on the road. Lowe said this new rivalry is good for softball and TV.

“We love it, we love all these new rivalries. It doesn’t take much to get the girls going for any of these new rivalries,” Lowe said. “So it’s exciting, they’re a good ball club, they play the game really well, I thought they played really good softball this weekend, they short gamed well, got the big hit when they needed it, they pitched well, they played really good defense as well.”

Arizona closes out its regular season home schedule on Tuesday when they host New Mexico State (22-22, 9-12 Conference USA) for a doubleheader.

Extra bases

— New Mexico State freshman outfielder Violet Redondo went to Mica Mountain, Aggie graduate student utility Riley Carley went to Sabino and NMSU junior first baseman Kristiana Watson went to Amphitheater.