WCWS Game 3: Texas Tech Vs. Texas Softball Live Updates, Highlights From The Women's College World Series

The Women’s College World Series between Texas and Texas Tech is going down the wire with a deciding Game 3 set for Friday evening. After two slugfests to start the series, seven innings (barring extras) will now decide where the softball national title will end up in Texas.

The Longhorns overcame a 1-0 deficit to win Game 1, courtesy of Reese Atwood’s heroics in the sixth inning. As the Red Raiders attempted to intentionally walk the catcher, Atwood swung and drove in two runs for Texas to go up 2-1 for a one-game lead in the WCWS.

Thursday’s Game 2 was a barnburner, starring NiJaree Canday’s dominance on the mound as Texas Tech tied the series with a 4-3 victory. Canady allowed two earned runs and six hits while striking out six batters, including Kayden Henry to end the game.

Before Canady’s late-game effort, Texas Tech broke the scoreless deadlock with two runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The Longhorns closed the gap by scoring on a double at the bottom of the seventh. However, Canady preserved the lead just enough for Texas Tech to force a winner-take-all Game 3. She was rewarded for those efforts ahead of Game 3, as her manager told ESPN that Canady had signed a new seven-figure NIL deal.

When asked what the team’s mindset was after the game, junior Mihiya Davis, who had two hits, said, “Forget about this, we still got another one to go.”

“We don’t want to lose, so just going up there and fighting for each other,” Davis added. The winner of Friday’s Game 3 will take their program’s first national championship home after both sides contributed to derailing Oklahoma’s four-year title reign.