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Netz leads No. 12 Arizona to series-opening win over No. 14 Texas Tech

Screenshot 2024-07-31 at 7.46.34 PMby:Brady Vernon•04/17/25•

BradyVernon

Screenshot 2025-04-17 at 6.46.09 PM
Courtesy of Arizona Athletics

Generally, if NiJaree Canady takes the circle with a lead, she doesn’t surrender it. However, she doesn’t always face another Player of the Year candidate on the other side. Canady’s early lead only lasted four batters as Devyn Netz hit a two-run blast to join the shortlist of players to homer against Canady.

Netz’s 15th homer of the season wouldn’t be her last impact in No. 12 Arizona’s 2-1 win over No. 14 Texas Tech. The two-way star entered the circle in the third inning and threw five shutout innings for the Wildcats.

Netz allowed a two-out double to Alana Johnson in the fourth, but was able to leave her at second base. After getting the first out of the fifth, Netz gave up back-to-back singles. She responded by inducing a groundout and striking out Haley Toney to end the threat.

Canady threw all six innings, allowing two runs on five hits. She struck out seven batters. Although the Texas Tech defense did keep the deficit to one multiple times. Tayler Biehl hit a two-out double but Texas Tech cut the run at home. Dakota Kennedy lifted a ball to center in the fifth that Mihyia Davis tried to track down but couldn’t hang on to as she crashed into the wall. Kennedy ended with a triple. However, Davis made up for it with a flying catch to end the inning and keep Kennedy from scoring.

Texas Tech had three hits in the first inning against Arizona starter Miranda Stoddard but only came away with one run.

The Red Raiders will seek to even the series on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. We’ll see if Canady goes again, knowing Texas Tech needs this series to host a regional.

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