Texas rallies past Texas Tech to win WCWS Game 1, as Atwood swings at 3-0 pitch
OKLAHOMA CITY — It was supposed to be ball 4.
As NiJaree Canady struggled to intentionally walk Reese Atwood in the bottom of the sixth, the batter capitalized.
Atwood, one of Texas' best hitters, didn't take the 3-0 pitch that was intended to give her a free pass to first base. Instead, she swung, singling to score two runs and send the Longhorns to a 2-1 victory in Game 1 of the Women's College World Series on Wednesday.
Atwood's hit gave Texas Tech its first deficit of the day at Devon Park and lifted Texas past one of the most controversial calls this June.
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In the top of the fifth with the game still scoreless, Texas Tech's Logan Halleman was called out at second after being caught stealing by Texas' Leighann Goode. However, Halleman was deemed safe because Goode was called for obstruction after a review.
Instead of clearing the bases, Texas Tech had a runner on second, and Halleman crossed home plate on Mihiya Davis' RBI single later in the inning.
According to the NCAA softball rulebook, obstruction occurs when a defensive player without possession of the ball 'impedes a batter's attempt to make contact with a pitch or impedes the progress of any runner who is legally running bases on a live ball,' whether intentionally or unintentionally.
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It is also obstruction when a defensive player without the ball 'blocks any part of the leading edge of first, second or third base or home plate.' If a player has the ball, or if a player is 'making a legitimate reaction to the trajectory of the ball after it is thrown,' it is not considered obstruction.
Texas and Texas Tech meet again in Game 2 on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET. Texas is one win away from the program's first title after making it to the championship series for the third time in four years. Game 3, if necessary, is slotted for Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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