When you’re questioning what Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was doing on Monday night time, it’s not onerous to seek out the reply. Simply head to his X account, the place he was firing off tweets about his alma mater’s softball staff.
Seeded twelfth within the NCAA Match, Texas Tech continues to be alive in its first ever Ladies’s Faculty World Collection and punched its ticket to the championship stage by beating Oklahoma in walk-off vogue, ending the Sooners’ pursuit of a fifth consecutive nationwide championship and bringing the best dynasty within the sport to a thundering halt.
The Sooners lastly scored off Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady within the prime of the seventh inning when Abigale Dayton related on an inside providing and despatched it clear over the precise discipline fence for a two-run homer. That tied the sport up and set the stage for the Purple Raiders to seize victory in a dramatic means.
Mihyia Davis acquired on base with a single to shallow heart discipline, then moved over to 3rd after her teammate Hailey Toney doubled to deep left heart. Lauren Allred then hit a ball that lofted simply deep sufficient into the outfield that gave Davis time to beat a throw and get dwelling safely for the game-winning run.
And so, Texas Tech’s season of firsts continues. They received their first Massive 12 title, reached the Tremendous Regionals for the primary time, appeared within the World Collection for the primary time, and now are on the cusp of their first nationwide championship after defeating second-seeded Oklahoma, 3-2.
Patty Gasso’s Sooners had received 4 straight World Collection titles, an accomplishment unmatched by every other program in Division I. A fifth consecutive title would have been otherworldly and extremely spectacular, however the Purple Raiders extinguished any flicker of hope of that taking place.
Mahomes was simply among the many most excited Texas Tech followers. Right here’s one of many a number of celebratory tweets he posted:
Whereas Canady gave up that two-run homer within the prime of the seventh — simply the eleventh she’s allowed this season in 226 innings of labor — she’s a giant cause why Texas Tech finds itself two wins away from a nationwide championship. Her stellar play continued on Monday night time, as she walked only one Sooner and gave up solely 5 hits in seven innings of labor whereas putting out eight batters.
On the season, Canady entered this matchup main all of Division I softball in victories (32), ERA (0.86) and hits allowed per seven innings (3.61). She’s additionally seventh in strikeouts per seven innings (9.5), seventh in shutouts (7), and fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.88). She’s been an asset on the plate this season too with 11 dwelling runs, 34 RBI and a .306 batting common.
Mahomes was a key a part of her recruitment to Lubbock when Canady was within the switch portal final offseason out of Stanford. The previous Texas Tech quarterback — now with three Tremendous Bowl trophies and two NFL MVP awards to his identify — interrupted his trip in Italy final summer time to name Canady in an try and woo her to Texas Tech.
“Patrick Mahomes, I’ve his quantity, I can attain out to him,” Canady advised ESPN. “So, I believe that’s cool. Final July, we had been consuming lunch and had a lovely view of the entire soccer stadium. Somebody advised me, simply ship an image to Patrick to see if he responds. He’s making ready for the season after which I believe inside 10 minutes he acquired again to me.”
After all, a $1,050,024 NIL deal from Texas Tech’s collective was doubtless a giant promoting level in getting Canady to hitch the Purple Raiders, however having one of many best quarterbacks of all-time on velocity dial is a pleasant perk too.
Canady has now taken victories in 11 straight appearances, not struggling a loss since Might 2. Texas Tech’s funding in her continues to repay in a giant means.
On Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, the Purple Raiders will face former Massive 12 rival Texas within the championship collection. It marks the primary time in 21 years that there was an intrastate matchup at this stage of the match — not since Cal and UCLA met in 2003. Mahomes is among the many many who can be rooting for Canady and the Purple Raiders to return out on prime in Oklahoma Metropolis.
