LUBBOCK REGIONAL | Ole Miss faces host Texas Tech today in winner’s tilt

The Ole Miss softball team (35-24) will battle a giant today when it takes on Texas Tech (53-6) in a winner’s bracket game of the NCAA Tournament in Lubbock. Ole Miss advanced via an 8-6 victory over Boston University on Friday, while Texas Tech defeated Marist 10-3.

First pitch between the Rebels and Red Raiders is set for 2 p.m. CT. Boston U. and Marist will follow with an elimination game at 4:30 p.m. CT. The loser between Ole Miss and Texas Tech would face the winner of the Boston U. and Marist game at 7 p.m. CT Saturday.

Friday’s hero in the circle Lilly Whitten is greeted by pitching coach Nancy Evans as she comes off the field.

HOW TO WATCH

This game will be shown on ESPN2.

PITCHING

Ole Miss should have starters Emilee Boyer and Kyra Aycock both available, and even reliever Lilly Whitten, who turned in a great, long relief effort in Friday’s win over Boston U. We believe Boyer wasn’t used Friday until she absolutely had to be because the plan was to save her for the second round and the likely matchup with Texas Tech. So, here it is. She owns a 12-13 record and a 3.68 ERA. Boyer has anchored the Ole Miss pitching staff, especially down the stretch. She has tallied 145 strikeouts to rank ninth in the single-season record books at Ole Miss.

Texas Tech is likely to throw NiJaree Canady, who owns a 22-5 record, 1.24 earned run average and 209 strikeouts this season. If the name sounds familiar, it should. The Rebels faced her during last year’s Women’s College World Series.

SCOUTING TEXAS TECH

Led by one of the best players in the nation in NiJaree Canady, the Texas Tech Red Raiders enter the weekend seeking to build on last season’s national runner up finish. Head coach Gerry Glasco has led the Red Raiders to back-to-back 50-win campaigns and into the national title conversation.

Canady is the headline name, going 22-5 with a 1.24 ERA (146.1 IP) and 209 strikeouts, but the Texas Tech lineup is loaded with talent. UCLA transfer and two-way star Kaitlyn Terry is a sparkling 22-1 and holds a 1.30 ERA (118.1 IP) while also hitting .471 with 10 home runs and 52 RBI.

Florida transfer Mia Williams and Jackie Lis form a power punch in the Red Raiders lineup. Williams is hitting .439 with 22 home runs and 73 RBI, while Lis is hitting .453 with 17 home runs and 59 RBI. On top of that, the speedy Mihyia Davis (.434 batting average, 34 steals) and power-hitting catcher Jasmyn Burns (17 home runs and 54 RBI) make the Texas Tech lineup extremely dangerous at any time.

• NCAA TOURNAMENT
• all times Eastern
  • Tuscaloosa Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 1 Alabama 8, USC Upstate 0
      • Game 2: Belmont 2, No. 8 Southeastern Louisiana 0
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 2 p.m.| No. 1 Alabama vs. Belmont
      • Game 4: 4:30 p.m. | USC Upstate vs. No. 8 Southeastern Louisiana
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 7 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 1 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 3:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 5
  • Baton Rouge Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 5 Virginia Tech 6, South Alabama 0
      • Game 2: No. 4 LSU 8, Akron 0 (6 innings)
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 1 p.m. | No. 4 LSU vs. No. 5 Virginia Tech
      • Game 4: 3:30 p.m. | Akron vs. South Alabama
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 6 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 2 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 4:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Tallahassee Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1:  Stetson 8, No. 3 Florida State 3 
      • Game 2: No. 6 UCF 2, vs. Jacksonville State 1 (8 innings)
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 12 p.m. | Stetson vs. No. 6 UCF
      • Game 4: 2:30 p.m. | No. 3 Florida State vs. Jacksonville State
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 5 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 12 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 2:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Los Angeles Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 7 South Carolina 7, Cal State Fullerton 4
      • Game 2: No. 2 UCLA 12, Cal Baptist 11
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 5 p.m. | No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 7 South Carolina
      • Game 4: 7:30 p.m. | Cal Baptist vs. Cal State Fullerton
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 10 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 7:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 10 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Fayetteville Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 2 Arkansas 8, Fordham 0 (6 innings)
      • Game 2: South Florida 3, No. 7 Washington 1
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 2 p.m. | South Florida vs. No. 2 Arkansas
      • Game 4: 4:30 p.m. | No. 7 Washington vs. Fordham
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 7 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 2 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 4:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Durham Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 3 Duke 10, Howard 1
      • Game 2: No. 6 Arizona 7, Marshall 5
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 1 p.m. | No. 3 Duke vs. No. 6 Arizona
      • Game 4: 3:30 p.m. | Howard vs. Marshall
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 6 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 12 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 2:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Stillwater Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 5 Stanford 8, Princeton 2
      • Game 2: No. 4 Oklahoma State 16, Eastern Illinois 0 (5 innings)
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 1 p.m. | No. 5 Stanford vs. No. 4 Oklahoma State
      • Game 4: 3:30 p.m. | Princeton vs. Eastern Illinois
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 6 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 4 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 6:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Lincoln Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: Grand Canyon 5, No. 8 Louisville 1
      • Game 2: No. 1 Nebraska 4, South Dakota 1
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 1 p.m. | No. 1 Nebraska vs. Grand Canyon
      • Game 4: 3:30 p.m. | South Dakota vs. No. 8 Louisville
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 6 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 3 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 5:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Norman Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 1 Oklahoma 11, Binghamton 0 (5 innings)
      • Game 2: No. 8 Kansas 1, Michigan 0 (8 innings)
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 3 p.m. | No. 8 Kansas vs. No. 1 Oklahoma
      • Game 4: 5:30 p.m. | Michigan vs. Binghamton
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 8 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 3 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 5:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Eugene Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 5 Mississippi State 3, Saint Mary’s 2 (8 innings)
      • Game 2: No. 4 Oregon 5, Idaho State 1
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 5 p.m. | No. 4 Oregon vs. No. 5 Mississippi State
      • Game 4: 7:30 p.m. | Idaho State vs. Saint Mary’s
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 10 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 7:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 10 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Lubbock Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 6 Ole Miss 8, Boston U. 6
      • Game 2: No. 3 Texas Tech 10, Marist 3
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 3 p.m. | No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Texas Tech
      • Game 4: 5:30 p.m. | Boston U. vs. Marist
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 8 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 4 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 6:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Gainesville Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 2 Florida 12, Florida A&M 0 (5 innings) 
      • Game 2: Georgia Tech 2, No. 7 Texas State 1
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 10 a.m. | No. 2 Florida vs. Georgia Tech 
      • Game 4: 12:30 p.m. | Florida A&M vs. No. 7 Texas State
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 3 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 12 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 2:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Knoxville Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 2 Tennessee 3, Northern Kentucky 1
      • Game 2: No. 7 Virginia 8, Indiana 7 (8 innings)
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 3 p.m. | No. 7 Virginia vs. No. 2 Tennessee
      • Game 4: 5:30 p.m. | Indiana vs. Northern Kentucky
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 8 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 2 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 4:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Athens Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: UNC Greensboro 1, No. 6 Clemson 0
      • Game 2: No. 3 Georgia 5, College of Charleston 2
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 1 p.m. | No. 3 Georgia vs. UNC Greensboro
      • Game 4: 3:30 p.m. | College of Charleston vs. No. 6 Clemson
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 6 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 12 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 2:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • College Station Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 4 Texas A&M 17, UConn 3
      • Game 2: No. 5 Arizona State 8, vs. McNeese 0 (5 innings)
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 3 p.m. | No. 5 Arizona State vs. No. 4 Texas A&M
      • Game 4: 5:30 p.m. | McNeese vs. UConn
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 8 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 3 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 5:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
  • Austin Regional
    • May 15
      • Game 1: No. 8 Wisconsin 2, Baylor 1 (9 innings)
      • Game 2: No. 1 Texas 9, Wagner 1 (5 innings)
    • May 16
      • Game 3: 1 p.m. | No. 1 Texas vs. No. 8 Wisconsin
      • Game 4: 3:30 p.m. | Wagner vs. Baylor
        • Elimination game
      • Game 5: 6 p.m. | Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3
    • May 17
      • Game 6: 1 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5
      • Game 7 (if necessary): 3:30 p.m. | Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 
• Super regionals: Thursday, May 21 to Sunday, May 24 | TBA host sites
• Women’s College World Series: May 28 – June 4/5 | Devon Park in Oklahoma City, OK
  • Game 1 | 12 p.m. Thursday, May 28 on ESPN
  • Game 2 | 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28 on ESPN
  • Game 3 | 7 p.m. Thursday, May 28 on ESPN2
  • Game 4 | 9:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28 on ESPN2
  • Game 5 | 7 p.m. Friday, May 29 on ESPN2
  • Game 6 | 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 29 on ESPN2
  • Game 7 | 3 p.m. Saturday, May 30 on ABC
  • Game 8 | 7 p.m. Saturday, May 30 on ESPN
  • Game 9 | 3 p.m. Sunday, May 31 on ABC
  • Game 10 | 7 p.m. Sunday, May 31 on ESPN2
  • Game 11 | 12 p.m. Monday, June 1 on ESPN
  • Game 12 | 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 1 on ESPN (if necessary)
  • Game 13 | 7 p.m. Monday, June 1 on ESPN2
  • Game 14 | 9:30 p.m. Monday, June 1 on ESPN2 (if necessary)
  • Championship Series Game 1 | 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 on ESPN
  • Championship Series Game 2 | 8 p.m. Thursday, June 4 on ESPN
  • Championship Series Game 3 | 8 p.m. Friday, June 5 on ESPN (if necessary)