Texas Tech advances to WCWS championship series

Texas Tech is heading to the Women’s College World Series championship series after ousting top-seeded Alabama in a dramatic semifinal match Monday.

The Red Raiders took back-to-back games against Alabama, winning a 5-4 walk-off in the first game and then blanking the Crimson Tide 2-0 in the second to advance.

Texas Tech will now play Texas for the national championship.

Texas Tech came back late in the first game, forcing a decisive second meeting. Alabama took an early lead and appeared to be in control until Jena Young tied the game with a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning. But Mia Williams replied in the bottom half, hitting a walk-off home run for the 5-4 win.

NiJaree Canady was solid on the mound in Game 2, holding Alabama to no runs in a 2-0 victory. The victory ended Alabama’s season just hours after the team had entered the day in the winners' bracket.

The Crimson Tide, the tournament’s top seed, ended the season 56-9 while Texas Tech, seeded No. 11, moved to 60-8 with the win.

In the span of only five hours, Alabama’s playoff ride went from contender to elimination, underscoring the high-stakes aspect of the WCWS structure.

The games were held at Devon Park, where Texas Tech was playing win-or-go-home and came through in the clutch to keep its title dreams alive.

Texas Tech has the momentum and will play Texas for the championship, a huge step forward for a program playing for a national title.