OKLAHOMA CITY — Just like last season, Texas softball opened the championship series at the Women’s College World Series against Texas Tech Wednesday with a win. Following their 7-3 victory at Devon Park, the Longhorns will now try and close out Texas Tech for a second consecutive national championship in Game 2 Thursday at 7:08 p.m.
Read below for live scores and updates Wednesday as the Texas Longhorns face the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Women’s College World Series.
Texas makes some noise with a two-out double by Reese Atwood to the wall, and Leighann Goode reaches first after getting hit by NiJaree Canady. But Canady forces a soft flyout by Hannah Wells and has only allowed two hits without a walk.
An infield single by Lauren Allred drives in speedy Mihyia Davis from second. Texas 2B Leighann Goode bobbled the ball, but Davis would likely have scored anyway so no error. Davis scored after a single and her second steal of the game. Tech base-running is beating the throws of Texas catcher Reese Atwood so far.
Texas is trying to slap its way onto base, but Tech starter NiJaree Canady is forcing a series of weak groundouts. She’s allowed just one hit and has retired nine straight batters.
Tech gets two on and one out after a walk to Kaitlyn Terry and a single by Jasmyn Burns, Tech’s first hit. But Texas starter Citlaly Gutierrez gets out of that little jam with a strikeout and a groundout by Lagi Quiroga.
Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady gets her first strikeout of the game vs. Hannah Wells, and she quickly gets through the second inning.
Tech’s Mihyi Davis gets on base after getting hit by a Citlaly Gutierrez pitch and swipes her 140th career steal, but the Red Raiders can’t get a hit.
Texas leadoff hitter Kayden Henry opens the game with a single and gets her 30th steal of the season and 90th of her career, but Tech starter NiJaree Canady forces a pair of popouts and a groundout by Reese Atwood to get out of the inning.
Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady throws a strike to Texas leadoff hitter Kayden Henry, and we’re off in Game 2. The Longhorns are trying to win a second straight national championship, and Texas Tech is trying to force a Game 3 Friday.
Not surprisingly, Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco will start NiJaree Canady (29-6, 1.87 ERA, 0.86 WHIP) in the circle. But Texas coach Mike White resisted the temptation to start ace Teagan Kavan for a second consecutive night and will go with senior Citlaly Gutierrez, who had arguably her best game of a four-year career Monday in an elimination game against Tennessee when she threw 6⅔ innings and gave up just five hits and two runs in a 5-2 win.
When: 7:08 p.m. Thursday
Where: Devon Park, Oklahoma City
TV/radio: ESPN; texaslonghorns.com