Texas Tech Stages Thrilling Comeback to Force Deciding Game in Women’s College World Series
In a nail-biting contest, the Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated the Texas Longhorns 4-3 on Thursday night, tying the Women’s College World Series best-of-3 matchup and setting the stage for a decisive Game 3.
Red Raiders pitcher NiJaree Canady delivered a standout performance, striking out Longhorns outfielder Kayden Henry to end the game. The Longhorns had a runner on third with a chance to tie in the final inning, but Canady’s final pitches sealed their fate.
The game kicked off with a tense fifth inning, where Texas Tech’s Alana Johnson was hit by a pitch from Texas pitcher Cambria Salmon, allowing the Red Raiders to break a scoreless tie. A wild pitch quickly followed, further extending Texas Tech’s lead to 2-0. The Longhorns responded in the sixth, with Mia Scott launching a solo home run to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Texas Tech rallied in the sixth, driven by an error from Texas pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez. A sacrifice fly from Bailey Lindemuth and an error on first base provided the Red Raiders two additional runs, pushing their lead to 4-1.
Texas staged a comeback in the seventh, with a double from Leighann Goode that brought in a run, closing the gap to 4-3. With the tying run on third, tension soared, but Canady fanned the final batter, securing the victory.
Canady pitched a full seven innings, allowing three runs while recording six strikeouts. Oklahoma’s championship hopes hang in the balance as the series heads to Game 3, scheduled for Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Both teams will be vying fiercely for the title, with Canady expected to pitch again for Texas Tech against Texas’s Teagan Kavan.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
