OKLAHOMA CITY — The Texas Tech softball team has become plenty acquainted with teams from the state of Mississippi over the past two seasons.
During last year’s run to the Women’s College World Series, the Red Raiders defeated Mississippi State in the championship of the Lubbock Regional, then took on Ole Miss in their first game in OKC. Things have flipped this time around, Tech having knocked out the Rebels in the regional and now facing the Bulldogs to open their second stay in the WCWS.
Both teams are dramatically different from last year’s postseason matchup. Texas Tech’s lineup has been greatly enhanced through the transfer portal with Mia Williams and Jackie Lis powering the top of the order and Kaitlyn Terry adding a second steady arm to go with NiJaree Canady, who has ended Mississippi State’s season each of the past two years, once at Stanford and last year with Tech.
Likewise, Mississippi State has undergone some changes. Samantha Rickett’s top pitcher and center fielder from last year both graduated, and her previous starting shortstop transferred out of the program. But the Bulldogs found their stride in the postseason by copying their state mate Ole Miss’ formula: earning upsets in both the regional (at Oregon) and Super Regional (knocking out powerhouse Oklahoma) to reach the WCWS for the first time.
Morgan Stiles and Nadia Barbary are two players who returned to Mississippi State this year and remember how their last meeting with Texas Tech went.
“Oh my gosh, I feel like they got a million hits against us,” Stiles recalled, “like we could not set their lineup down.”
Texas Tech head coach Gerry Glasco said because his team is so different from last year, there’s not much to take from the pair of games in Lubbock to indicate how their WCWS opener could go. But the Bulldogs’ ability to take down Oklahoma in Norman has his attention.
“They’re confident right now,” Glasco said. “They’re going to be dangerous. When you win a series like they did at Oklahoma, and you get the momentum out of that, and the maturity of the girls, the maturity that the team as players experience, they’re set up. They’re going to be a dangerous ball club.”
Glasco said getting momentum early in the game, the first of the entire tournament, will be critical for both teams.
Players to watch in Texas Tech softball vs Mississippi State in Women’s College World Series
Mississippi State’s Nadia Barbary and Alyssa Faircloth
Barbary has spent all four years at Mississippi State and leads the team with a .330 batting average and 41 RBI. She’s also tied for the team lead with 14 home runs. Alyssa Faircloth, who transferred in from Troy, pitched a no-hitter earlier in the postseason and sports a 2.47 ERA with 264 strikeouts to just 61 walks this season.
Texas Tech softball’s Jasmyn Burns and Jackie Lis
After going on a massive power surge late in the year, Jasmyn Burns has continued to hit well as of late, but has gone seven straight games without hitting a home run. She’s put good pop on the ball for outs and seems due for another long ball. Burns and Jackie Lis are both making their first appearances in the WCWS and Lis is coming off a game with two home runs in the Super Regional clincher against Florida. Look for both to make their mark.
Stat to know for Texas Tech softball in Women’s College World Series
The Red Raiders have only lost one series since Glasco took over as head coach, that setback coming in last year’s national championship series against Texas. Texas Tech has also not lost back-to-back games in Glasco’s tenure.
Score prediction for Texas Tech softball vs Mississippi State in Women’s College World Series
Texas Tech 7, Mississippi State 2: There’s no telling what the pitching matchup will be, but the Red Raider offense has been on fire in the postseason, scoring at least 10 runs in five of their six games. They won’t quite get there against the Bulldogs, but it’ll be a comfortable win regardless.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech softball vs Mississippi State in WCWS | Scouting report, predictions
Reporting by Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
