Texas Softball faces Stanford for the first time in the Women's College World Series

The Texas softball team will open the Women's College World Series on Thursday against a familiar opponent.

Thanks to a three-hit, full-game performance by All-American pitcher NiJaree Canady, Stanford beat LSU 8-0 on Sunday night in the third game of a best-of-three Super Regional series to advance to the WCWS in Oklahoma City. The No. 8 Cardinal (48-15) will face top-seeded Texas (51-7) at 6 p.m. Thursday at Devon Park. Because the WCWS follows a double-elimination format, the loser of the game is not eliminated from the tournament but must fight its way back into contention from the losers bracket.

Texas shortstop Viviana Martinez has secured her ticket to the 2024 NCAA Women's College World Series after the Longhorns' 6-5 win in Game 3 against Texas A&M on Sunday at McCombs Field. Texas will open the WCWS against Stanford on Thursday at 6 p.m.

More:Texas Softball outlasts the Aggies and breathes a sigh of relief | Bohls

Canady, who is one of three finalists for USA Softball's Player of the Year award alongside Texas catcher Reese Atwood, is no stranger to the Longhorns' lineup. She pitched all eight innings in the Cardinals' 4-3 extra-inning win over Texas earlier this season, allowing six hits and two earned runs, along with 11 strikeouts and two walks.

Canady, a sophomore, brings pure heat to the circle. She leads the nation in strikeouts with 310 as well as a minuscule 0.67 ERA heading into Sunday's game against LSU.

Immediately following his team's victory over Texas A&M in the third game of their Super Regional series, Texas coach Mike White didn't know if Texas would face Canada and the Cardinals or a powerful LSU team. He did know, however, that his team would return to Devon Park, home to both the Big 12 tournament and the U.S. nationals, for the second time in three seasons for the WCWS.

More:WATCH: Texas softball coach Mike White on No. 1 overall NCAA ranking, expectations, Oklahoma

“There's going to be a 'wow' factor, don't get me wrong,” White said. “Maybe half the team has been to the College World Series before, so there's going to be a 'Hoosiers' moment where we're probably going to have to measure the mound and the running routes — 60 feet and then turn left — because they're going to be in awe of it.”

“There's a lot going to happen. But they have to understand that the game doesn't know all that. They have to go out there and play the game and be ready. But I'm fully confident that we can go out there and do our best.”

Atwood, a sophomore who set Texas single-season records in home runs (23), RBIs (90) and total bases (160), has played her best all season. She is excited about her trip to the WCWS, saying she is “grateful that we have the opportunity to play on the biggest stage.”

Texas Softball faces Stanford for the first time in the Women's College World Series

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Texas Softball faces Stanford for the first time in the Women's College World Series

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