OKLAHOMA CITY — Reese Atwood delivered a two-run single in the sixth while Texas Tech was attempting to intentionally walk her, lifting Texas to a 2-1 win over NiJaree Canady and the Red Raiders in Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series Championship Series on Wednesday night.

The Longhorns (55-11) will look to win their first-ever national title when the teams square off again in Game 2 Thursday while Texas Tech (53-13) will look to force a winner-take-all Game 3.

“It’s huge, momentum is something in this game that’s really key and we have it going into (Thursday’s) game, and I have all faith that this team will pull through,” Atwood said in a postgame on-field interview.

Canady was dominant through two outs in the sixth, allowing just one hit and striking out seven.

But after Canady struck out the first two batters in the inning, Kayden Henry singled to left to ignite a rally.

Henry stole second, Mia Scott followed with an infield single and stole second herself.

Texas Tech then tried to intentionally walk Atwood to put the force on all around.

“I’m a college pitcher,” Canady told reporters. “I’m a junior now. I should be able to do that.”

Canady, who hadn’t intentionally walked a hitter this season, threw three balls.

But on the fourth pitch, she left the ball within reach of Atwood, who drove it into left field to score the tying and go-ahead runs.

“I was just going to be on time with it, if it was there I was going to hit it,” Atwood said. “You have to take risks in tight games like this, that’s what Coach (Chris) White always says. (Canady) gave me something a little bit that I could hit and I just had to get on it.”

Before Atwood’s hit, the only run of the game came on a controversial call in the fifth.

Logan Halleman looked like she was thrown out stealing easily, but after review, Texas shortstop Leighann Goode was called for obstruction.
With two outs, Mihyia Davis delivered a single to right-center to score Halleman.

Teagan Kavan went the distance for the Longhorns, holding Texas Tech to just three hits and walking one while striking out three.

“Just to trust herself, trust her pitches,” Atwood on what she told Kavan before the seventh inning. “Teagan’s amazing, I don’t think she needs to hear it from me because she’s so great.”

Canady had won 16 consecutive decisions.

“Just knowing that this is just Game 1, we still have two more games to play,” Canady said. “They won one game, they didn’t win the whole battle.”

–Field Level Media