OKLAHOMA CITY, June 4, 2025 — In a stunning twist during Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series finals, Texas slugger Reese Atwood swung at what was meant to be ball four during an intentional walk and drove in the game-winning runs to give the Longhorns a dramatic 2-1 victory over Texas Tech.
Facing ace NiJaree Canady, who had dominated all night, Atwood seized her moment in the bottom of the sixth. With two runners in scoring position and two outs, Texas Tech opted to walk Atwood intentionally. But as Canady tossed a pitch close to the plate, Atwood made a bold decision—and crushed it to left field to score two runs.
“I saw my opportunity and I took it,” said Atwood.
Until that moment, Atwood was hitless in the WCWS, going 0-for-10. Still, Tech coach Gerry Glasco defended the strategy, saying, “I didn’t want to pitch to maybe the best hitter in the country.”
Canady, who hadn’t attempted an intentional walk all season, took the blame for leaving a hittable pitch. “That loss is on me,” she said.
Texas coach Mike White admitted even he was surprised: “I said, ‘I didn’t give you the 3-0 green light,’ but I’m glad she didn’t listen.”
In the seventh, Texas Tech got a leadoff runner on due to an error, but Texas ace Teagan Kavan shut the door, earning her fifth WCWS win and keeping her scoreless streak intact.
Texas now sits one win away from its first-ever softball national title. Game 2 is Thursday, with Glasco undecided on whether Canady—who’s thrown 388 pitches this series—will return to the mound. Still, he remains confident: “If anyone can pull this o
ff, it’s NiJa.”