Texas Tech star pitcher Nijaree Canady will start in the WCWS championship opener Wednesday despite a sore left hamstring she has been dealing with since February, her coach confirmed Tuesday.

Speaking on Big 12 Radio ahead of the Women’s College World Series matchup against Oklahoma, Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco revealed NiJaree Canady suffered an injury earlier in the year. The two-time reigning National Pitcher of the Year was apparently playing on a torn hamstring.

Until allowing five Texas softball runs on five hits in the first inning of a 10-4 trampling, Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady didn’t know limits.