NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech blank Ole Miss in WCWS opener

OKLAHOMA CITY -- NiJaree Canady took a perfect game into the sixth inning and finished with 10 strikeouts in a complete-game two-hitter as No. 12 Texas Tech earned a 1-0 win over Ole Miss in the opening round of the Women's College World Series on Thursday.

The Red Raiders will take on the victor from the Thursday night UCLA-Oregon game on Saturday in the winner's bracket. The Rebels will play the Bruins-Ducks loser on Friday in an elimination game.

Neither team had a hit until Texas Tech's Lauren Allred laced a one-out single to left in the bottom of the fourth.

Alana Johnson then delivered a double down the left field line, with Allred racing around to score on Jaden Pone's throwing error.

The Red Raiders then loaded the bases with one out after an obstruction call and an infield single before Aliyah Binford got Raegan Jennings to hit into a double play to end the inning without further damage.

But one run was plenty for Canady.

The Rebels didn't hit a ball out of the infield against the Stanford transfer until Tenly Grisham's liner to center to lead off the sixth. Center fielder Mihyia Davis raced in to snag the ball, keeping the perfect game alive.

The next hitter, though, finally broke through against Canady. Angelina DeLeon delivered a single up the middle to break up the perfect game.

After allowing another hit, Canady retired the next two hitters to escape with the shutout intact. Canady then struck out the side in the seventh to put the game away and give the Red Raiders a win in their first-ever WCWS game.

Rain delayed the start of the game by 45 minutes.