Texas took control of the Women’s College World Series championship series with a narrow 2-1 win over Texas Tech in Game 1, thanks to a surprising and bold move by catcher Reese Atwood. In the bottom of the sixth inning, with two runners on and a 3-0 count, Atwood swung at what appeared to be an intentional walk pitch and drove a two-run single into the outfield—snapping her postseason slump in dramatic fashion.
The hit came off of Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady, who had dominated through five innings, allowing only one hit before the pivotal sixth. Texas had put two runners aboard with back-to-back singles and a stolen base, setting the stage for Atwood’s unexpected swing that gave her team the lead.
On the defensive side, freshman pitcher Teagan Kavan delivered a strong outing for Texas, managing to hold off Texas Tech’s offense while working through early pressure. The Red Raiders had taken a 1-0 lead in the third inning but couldn’t generate enough offense down the stretch to reclaim the advantage.
With this victory, Texas now leads the best-of-three series and is just one win away from claiming its first national championship in softball. Game 2 is set for Thursday evening, where Texas Tech will fight to stay alive, and the Longhorns will look to close out their historic run.
