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Louisiana Tech stuns No. 4 Oklahoma State, No. 10 Texas Tech falls in wild day of softball
Friday’s softball slate did not disappoint, with ranked teams falling, statement wins, and dramatic finishes across the country.
Here’s a look at the biggest results from all of the action.
Louisiana Tech stuns No. 4 Oklahoma State
Louisiana Tech pulled off a massive upset Friday, taking down No. 4 Oklahoma State 6-1 in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge behind a second-inning surge and dominant pitching from Allie Floyd.
The Lady Techsters (2-0) capitalized on a poor second inning from OSU (1-1), drawing four straight walks and scoring twice on a throwing error to take a commanding 4-0 lead. Floyd took care of the rest, allowing just one run on seven hits while striking out four in a complete game.
Oklahoma State’s struggles started when starter Kyra Aycock issued back-to-back bases-loaded walks to bring in two runs. A throwing error on a fielder’s choice moments later allowed two more to cross, forcing the Cowgirls to play from behind the rest of the way.
No better time for your first career hit!
💻 https://t.co/oHzWlELcS1@kiarra_sells | #HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/Ny68qqssXN
— Mississippi State Softball (@HailStateSB) February 8, 2025
RyLee Crandall provided stability out of the bullpen, retiring 12 straight batters before Louisiana Tech struck again in the sixth. A single from Carly Raley, followed by an RBI hit from Natalie Hammoude, extended the lead to 6-0.
The Cowgirls had their chances but left nine runners stranded. Their lone run came in the sixth when Karli Godwin led off with a double and scored on a Micaela Wark infield single.
Oklahoma State will look to bounce back quickly with a matchup against Northern Colorado next.
Mississippi State shocks No. 10 Texas Tech in extra innings
Mississippi State pulled off an early-season upset, taking down No. 10 Texas Tech 3-1 in extra innings at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.
The Bulldogs broke a scoreless tie in the eighth, stringing together clutch hits to push across three runs. Kiarra Sells started the rally with an RBI single through the right side, followed by a sacrifice fly from Morgan Bernardini and an RBI single from Sierra Sacco.
Texas Tech got one back in the bottom half on Mihyia Davis’ RBI groundout, but Raelin Chaffin shut the door to seal Mississippi State’s win. Chaffin was outstanding, tossing eight innings of three-hit ball while striking out six and allowing no earned runs.
Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady was equally dominant through seven innings, striking out 12 and allowing just one hit. But the Bulldogs finally cracked her in extras, making the most of their opportunities.
The Red Raiders managed only three hits all night and stranded six runners. Alana Johnson’s first-inning double was Texas Tech’s lone extra-base hit.
With the win, Mississippi State notched its first ranked victory of the season, while Texas Tech will look to bounce back in its next game at the tournament.
RANKINGS: View the latest softball rankings
Texas A&M rallies late to outslug Baylor
No. 7 Texas A&M powered past No. 19 Baylor with a late offensive surge, securing a 10-7 victory Thursday at Davis Diamond.
The Aggies (3-0) trailed 7-1 after four innings before erupting for four runs in the fifth and five more in the sixth. Rylen Wouley and Rylen Powell sparked the comeback, each driving in runs, while Trinity Barbara sealed the win with a two-run homer in the sixth.
Baylor (2-1) built an early lead behind a four-run second inning, capitalizing on timely hits from McKenzie Flores and Emily Dawson. The Bears extended their advantage to 7-1 in the fourth, but their bats went quiet as A&M’s bullpen capitalized.
Aggies reliever Emiley Kennedy tossed two scoreless innings to earn the win, while Baylor’s pitching staff struggled to slow A&M’s rally, allowing nine runs in the final two frames.
A&M’s aggressive base running and hitting proved the difference, with Vrazel and Dement combining for three extra-base hits and four RBIs.
The Aggies remain unbeaten and will look to keep rolling as the tournament continues, while Baylor aims to rebound in its next matchup.
Duke dominates Mississippi State in run-rule shutout
No. 8 Duke rolled to an 8-0 run-rule victory over No. 24 Mississippi State in five innings at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.
Kairi Rodriguez set the tone early, launching a three-run homer in the first inning to put the Blue Devils (2-0) in command. Duke added two more in the second, highlighted by an RBI double from Aminah Vega.
The offense kept rolling in the third as Rodriguez and Amiah Burgess notched back-to-back singles, setting up another score. Burgess later added an RBI infield single in the fourth before Ana Gold dashed home during a rundown to cap the scoring.
Duke ace D’Auna Jennings dominated in the circle, tossing five shutout innings with three strikeouts while allowing just four hits. Mississippi State (1-1) struggled to generate offense, managing only one extra-base hit — a double from Kiarra Sells.
Bulldogs starter Josey Marron gave up five runs in just 1.2 innings, and reliever Lexi Sosa allowed three more over 2.1 innings.
OPENING DAY RECAP: Oklahoma’s go-ahead grand slam, Jordy Bahl and Nebraska’s domination launch the softball season
No. 15 Missouri shuts out No. 20 Northwestern
No. 15 Missouri opened its 2025 campaign with a statement, blanking No. 20 Northwestern 3-0 behind a dominant outing from junior pitcher Cierra Harrison at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
Harrison delivered a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits while striking out six in her season debut. She kept the Wildcats off balance all night, limiting them to just one runner in scoring position.
Missouri capitalized on a first-inning Northwestern error to take an early lead before Stefania Abruscato extended the advantage with an RBI infield single in the second. The Tigers tacked on an insurance run in the sixth when Claire Cahalan roped a two-out triple and scored on a base hit from Hannah Crenshaw.
Northwestern’s best chance came in the fourth when leadoff hitter Ava Avvisato, who finished 3-for-3, doubled to start the inning. But Harrison responded with a strikeout and two flyouts to strand the runner.
Northwestern starter Riley Grudzielanek battled through six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out three.
NEW ERA: Getting to know the ‘new’ Oklahoma softball
No. 24 Maryland routs No. 21 Cal with early surge
No. 24 Maryland wasted no time making a statement, scoring six runs in the first three innings to knock off No. 21 California 6-3 in the Kajikawa Classic. The win marks Maryland’s first of the season.
Mazie MacFarlane powered the Terps at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, including a two-run double in the third that gave Maryland a commanding 6-1 lead. Sam Bean and Madison Runyan each chipped in RBI singles, while Caitlyn Cornwell added a hit, an RBI, and a stolen base.
Cal struggled to respond early but found some life late. Kaylee Pond launched her first home run of the season in the sixth, and Tatum Bell had an RBI single in the third, but Maryland starter Julia Shearer held the Bears in check. The lefty went the distance, striking out three while allowing three runs on six hits for her third career complete game.
After a rough start, Cal’s pitching settled down. Annabel Teperson entered in the fourth and shut down Maryland’s offense, recording two strikeouts and not allowing a hit the rest of the way.
Maryland will face Miami (Ohio) next, while Cal will look to bounce back in a doubleheader against Utah and a rematch with the Terps.
Delaware shocks No. 22 Michigan for historic win
Delaware made history Thursday, defeating No. 22 Michigan 8-2 at the USF Rawlings Invitational for its first-ever win over a ranked opponent.
The Blue Hens (2-2) jumped on Michigan (0-1) early, plating five runs in the first inning. After loading the bases on a single and two hit batters, Delaware capitalized with a two-run double from Lexi Shaffer, an RBI double from Chloe Blantz, and a fielder’s choice to take a commanding lead.
Michigan had opportunities but struggled to convert, leaving 13 runners on base and going scoreless with the bases loaded in the fourth and sixth innings. The Wolverines’ only runs came on a passed ball in the first and a seventh-inning error.
Delaware’s pitching was key. Grace Kerwood tossed 4.2 innings and allowed just one unearned run while escaping multiple jams. Taylor Hess closed out the final 2.1 innings, sealing the upset.
Shaffer led the offense, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while Hess, Blantz, and Sydney Cahalan each had multi-hit performances.
The Blue Hens extended their lead with runs in the fourth and fifth innings, cruising to a historic win. They’ll now face No. 3 Florida on Friday, while Michigan looks to rebound from a rough season opener.
Josh Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Byron Buxton went deep for the 23rd time this season, leading off the sixth, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers 4-2 on Monday night.
All six runs in the game came off homers, with Texas’ Joc Pederson delivering a two-run shot in the third off rookie Mike Paredes.
Minnesota’s 25-year-old left-hander fell an out short of his first major league win in his second start among four career appearances since May 31. Paredes allowed four hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Buxton has homered in six of his past nine games to get within one of major league leaders Yordan Alvarez of Houston and Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber.
Four Twins relievers held Texas to one hit over the final 4 1/3 innings, starting with Taylor Rogers (3-3) striking out Pederson, the only batter he faced, to end the fifth.
Andrew Morris pitched a perfect sixth, Eric Orze allowed a single over 1 2/3 innings and Yoendrys Gómez retired the final four Texas batters for his second save in two days and seventh of the season, six coming with Minnesota.
Josh Smith came off the bench for the Rangers in his first appearance since May 3, fouling out to catcher Alex Jackson on the only pitch he saw from Orze. Smith’s six-week absence started with a glute strain and wrist inflammation before he was hospitalized with viral meningitis.
Kyler Fedko made his major league debut for the Twins as the left fielder. The 26-year-old went 0 for 4, striking out his first two times up against Texas left-hander Mackenzie Gore, who struck out a season-high 10 in seven innings. Gore (4-6) allowed four hits and four runs with two walks in seven innings.
Up next
Twins RHP Zebby Matthews (2-4, 5,20 ERA) faces Texas RHP Kumar Rocker (2-5, 3.56) on Tuesday.
Sophomore shortstop Adrian Rodriguez hit for the cycle in a 14-2 Texas victory. He became the third player
The Big 12 has started down the legal path to potentially sanction Texas Tech over its intention to play quarterback Brendan Sorsby.
On Monday, the conference filed a 47-page complaint against Texas Tech, the Texas attorney general, the system’s chancellor, the school president and athletic director in seeking declaratory judgement and a preliminary injunction to enable it to enforce its bylaws.
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In this landmark case — a league filing legally against one of its members — the Big 12 is asking a federal court to bar Texas Tech and the state’s attorney general, Ken Paxton, from preventing the conference from “exercising its right under its bylaws to sanction Texas Tech,” according to the complaint obtained by Yahoo Sports, which was filed in the Northern District of Texas in Dallas.
The league is not seeking damages in the filing and is not challenging a state court ruling deeming Sorsby eligible, but is instead asking a federal judge to permit it to take action against the Red Raiders in light of legal threats made from the Texas attorney general, whose letter to the league last week seems to have triggered the Big 12’s filing. The letter from Paxton’s office demanded that the league refrain from exercising its governance authority, characterizing any sanction as an antitrust violation and threatening joint liability against the conference.
Perhaps most notably, the complaint lays out the conference’s intention to sanction Texas Tech if it were to play Sorsby, who has acknowledged to betting on his own team while a freshman at Indiana, violating one of sports’ most sacred policies.
According to the filing, Big 12 conference officials, university presidents and athletic directors have requested that Tech not play Sorsby, but “TTU has not agreed,” resulting in the conference considering a variety of sanctions. Big 12 presidents and chancellors are scheduled to meet later Monday afternoon, though a decision on sanctions is not necessarily expected then.
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“If a vote were to occur however,” the complaint says, “some of the potential sanctions the Board could consider under the bylaws include monetary sanctions and/or a ban on competing in the Big 12 Championship Game.”
There is “considerable concern” within the Big 12 that the league will incur “reputational harm and irreparable damage to public and member trust in the integrity of league compensations” if Sorsby were to play and is concerned that the Red Raiders would “take a spot” from another school in the league championship game “with a player that has acted contrary” to conference values.
“In an industry that rarely agrees on anything, there is finally an issue that everyone seems to agree on (other than TTU and the Attorney General): universities should not field players who have bet on their own team’s games in college athletics,” the Big 12 writes in the filing.
The league is asking a federal judge to grant an injunction to allow it to exercise its “First Amendment” rights to invoke its authority under its bylaws, dismiss Paxton’s claims that any sanction is an antitrust violation and grant it the right to penalize a member school for violating the dormant Commerce Clause, which prevents state governments from enacting laws that impact competition or commence across a variety of states.
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“The threat that gambling poses to the integrity of athletic competition has been understood — and has been borne out by scandal — for over a century,” the complaint reads. “That history informs the Conference’s values and governance practices and explains why these values are non-negotiable.”
The complaint lists as defendants Paxton, Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University System, chancellor Brandon Creighton, president Lawrence Schovanec and athletic director Kirby Hocutt.
When reached on Monday, Big 12 officials declined to comment on the filing.
The Sorsby case has gripped college athletics.
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A Texas court judge’s decision last Monday to prohibit the NCAA from enforcing its rule to permanently ban Sorsby from playing college football sent shockwaves through the college community, with one Big 12 athletic director even calling it “total f***ing bulls***” and at least two schools boycotting playing Tech in future competitions.
The NCAA denied Sorsby’s request to have his eligibility reinstated after he acknowledged wagering on his own team. In all, Sorsby acknowledged to making at least $90,000 from thousands of impermissible wagers during his college career, which spanned from Indiana to Cincinnati to, now, Texas Tech, which signed him to a one-year contract believed to be worth at least $4 million annually.
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Even after enrolling at Tech, Sorsby admitted to sending about $5,000 to another person to place bets on his behalf. Upon the NCAA starting an investigation into the quarterback this spring, Sorsby enrolled in treatment for sports gambling addiction and anxiety.
After news emerged that the Big 12 was considering sanctioning Tech, Paxton’s office sent a letter to the league Thursday.
“The Big 12 is concerned with TTU’s stated plans — communicated by TTU to the Conference and now backed by independent threats from the Attorney General — to field a student-athlete in Conference competitions despite admitted wagering conduct that is both illegal and in direct conflict with the ethical standards and public trust on which Big 12 competition depends,” the complaint says.
“The Big 12 and its Member Institutions (apparently save TTU) have no interest in being required to endorse or even appearing to endorse unethical and indeed unlawful conduct that strikes at the heart of athletic integrity,” the suit reads.
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