Texas Tech’s ‘million-dollar arm’ ends Oklahoma’s NCAA softball dynasty

They call it the greatest show on dirt, and Monday night semifinal in the Women's College World Series lived up to that billing

Texas Tech not only got a dramatic walk-off win to make their first final

but they put an end to Oklahoma's historic four-year dynasty. The Sooners did not go quietly

Down to their final strike in the bottom of the seventh inning, Abigail Dayton hit a two-run homer to tie the game at two

It was the only mistake Texas Tech superstar pitcher Najary Kennedy made all night

Kennedy's teammates bailed her out in the bottom of the inning with a couple hits and a walk-off sack fly

Head coach Jerry Glasgow's players slayed the dragon that has dominated college softball, winning the last four national titles

And as I've been on the motto all year is our chance at forever. And we can leave a legacy at Texas Tech that will be remembered forever in the minds of the people that are able to watch this ball club

And I think that we've done that. I think our team has, they've left a legacy that will be remembered forever

Kennedy definitely has. the junior who earned National Player of the Year honors

at Stanford last season, became the first softball player to sign a $1 million name, image, and likeness deal

when she transferred to Lubbock in the summer of 2024. All she's done this season is post a 33-5 record

with an ERA of 0 Kennedy has thrown every pitch for her team in this World Series run and was one strike away from holding the Sooners scoreless for the first time in six years She was asked how they

pulled it off. We just play for each other but also honestly I feel like a lot of people doubted

us and a lot of people didn't think we would get to this point so I think we just didn't have any

pressure on us. We just went to go out play softball and play our game. Her head coach Jerry

Glasgow made sure to put his team's win into perspective. He compared the Sooners to another

all-time great program. What they've done is historic, legendary, something we're going to be

When I was a kid, we grew up talking about John Wooden and UCLA basketball, and I still think of

John Wooden and UCLA basketball when I think of college basketball, and that's what Patty Gasso

has done and what Oklahoma's done. Great champions. Patty Gasso shed some tears at the podium. With

14 newcomers, she very nearly coached the Sooners to their sixth straight championship series

The record run of titles may be done, but Gassau, who has eight national championships

since 1995, says she's never thought about coaching a dynasty. Losing is life. We all lose at something, and it's hard, but it's lessons learned from it

and I think that's probably what's most important for me. The Red Raiders get the rival Texas Longhorns next

The best of three championship series starts Wednesday. Both teams are looking for their first national title

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis