WCWS finals: Texas Tech holds off Texas, forces Game 3

By TIM WILLERT The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — NiJaree Canady scattered six hits and pitched her way out of a seventh-inning jam, and Texas Tech forced a decisive third game in the Women’s College World Series with a 4-3 victory over Texas in Game 2 on Thursday night.

The Game 3 showdown on Friday night (5 p.m. PT, ESPN) matches two programs looking for their first national title.

Canady, who allowed a go-ahead, two-run single while trying to walk a member of the Longhorns (55-12) in the sixth inning of an eventual 2-1 loss in the series opener on Wednesday, again went the distance for the Red Raiders (54-13). She has pitched every inning in the super regionals and World Series and carried a 4-1 lead to the seventh.

But Texas’ Katie Stewart reached on an error by the shortstop and Canady hit Victoria Hunter to put runners on first and second with no outs. Leighann Goode doubled to left center, scoring Stewart and moving Hunter to third. Pinch-hitter Katie Cimusz lined out to left field to score Hunter and cut the deficit to 4-3.

But Canady (34-6) got Ashton Mahoney to ground out and struck out Kayden Henry on three pitches to end the game, another example of why the Red Raiders gave her a $1 million dollar NIL deal during the offseason to transfer to Texas Tech from Stanford.

“NiJa was huge,” Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco said. “She went out there and pitched her tail off.”

Glasco loved the way his entire team bounced back from the Game 1 loss.

“Last night was a test for us, and we’re growing from everything that happens to us,” he said. “I told them after the game last night we learn 10 times more when we lose than when we win. We learned so much last night, and I think the bottom of seventh, our fortitude and our determination and the way we reacted there at the end was a testament to the toughness they’re acquiring by playing these tough battles.”

Mac Morgan started for Texas and pitched two scoreless innings. Cambria Salmon (7-2) entered and worked two scoreless before running into trouble in the fifth when Texas Tech loaded the bases with two outs. Salmon got ahead 0-and-2 on Alana Johnson but eventually hit her with a pitch to score Raegan Jennings from third and then thew a wild pitch on the first toss to Alexa Langeliers that scored Mihya Davis, giving the Red Raiders a 2-0 lead.

The Longhorns answered with one out in the sixth when Mia Scott hit a solo home run to left center to cut the margin to 2-1.

Texas Tech responded in its half of the sixth off Longhorns reliever Citlay Gutierrez. Demi Elder drew a walk, Victoria Valdez reached on a throwing error that allowed pinch runner Mikayla Garcia to advance to third base. Bailey Lindermuth greeted reliever Teagan Kavan with a sacrifice fly to score Garcia, and Davis (3 for 4) reached on a fielding error that brought home Valdez.

“An exciting game. A tough finish to it,” Texas coach Mike White said. “Getting down against NiJa 4-1, we made a good fight to come back, but we got down with some uncharacteristic errors there and some missed plays that they took advantage of, some good base running and everything else.

“We’ve got to come back now and face NiJa again for sure, and we’re going to have to kind of work really hard to get some runs and then obviously shut them down as well.”

In the fourth inning, Texas star Reese Atwood narrowly missed a two-run homer as her fly ball was just a few feet wide of the left field foul pole.

Canady struck out six and issued two walks while scattering the six hits.

“Obviously [Wednesday] night wasn’t my best game. I feel like this game wasn’t my best game, either,” she said. “I was just leaving it out on the field.”

After the game-ending strikeout, Canady ripped off her mask and repeatedly pumped her fist.

“For NiJa, to pitch the way she’s pitched after 14 innings … in less than 26-27 hours,” Glasco said, “just amazing, to have the mental strength to get through that seventh.”

Scott reached base three times on two hits (one the homer) and a walk for the Longhorns.

Salmon allowed two runs on three hits and one walk with one strikeout in three innings.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was on hand to root for the Red Raiders. The Texas Tech alum has been a supporter of the team on social media throughout the season and even gifted team members sports gear, including varsity jackets and sneakers.

Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, were animated and seemingly in full “sports fan” mode throughout the game, watching from a box in the stands. He appeared to be as involved in the game as he was in all his Super Bowl appearances, standing, clapping, yelling and encouraging the Red Raiders, hanging on every pitch.

The start of the game was delayed approximately 50 minutes due to heavy rain.