Mahomes pumps up the crowd

New York Times

3 days ago

Texas Tech wins Game 2 of the WCWS, and we will have a deciding Game 3 for the national title Associated Press
Patrick Mahomes has this crowd PUMPED. UP. So many Tech fans just got to their feet pointing upward to the star QB, jumping up and down while all cheering for their Red Raiders.
That was such a great at-bat by pinch hitter Logan Halleman, but that 48-mph flip change by Cambria Salmon just froze Halleman where she stood in the lefty batter's box to strike her out looking. My goodness, that was nasty.
Teagan Kavan is warming up in the Texas bullpen. Now would be as good a time as any for the Red Raiders to make a dent in the scorebook this inning.
While this one is, to no one's surprise, a pitchers duel yet again, I'd say it's more of a defensive showcase. Both of these teams are laying everything on the line, diving for balls and making perfect throw after perfect throw. It's putting a lot more pressure on both offenses, and this one keeps getting later and later. Associated Press
B5 - Texas 0, Texas Tech 0
Nija Canady looks like she has settled in now that we're through five innings. She had her first 1-2-3 inning on a line out, a strikeout and a pop out. Canady has four strikeouts and has allowed four hits. But if she has found her groove, watch out.
Cambria Salmon's changeup has been lethal against this Texas Tech lineup. Her rise ball speed hits around 68 mph, and her change drops down to the high-40s. It's keeping these Red Raiders quiet, and as Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco mentioned in his mid-inning interview with Holly Rowe, the last thing this Texas Tech team wants is to go scoreless into the sixth or seventh inning and then have to try to get the win against Teagan Kavan. Imagn Images
T5 - Texas 0, Texas Tech 0
Cambria Salmon has been terrific since replacing Mac Morgan in the circle for Texas. Salmon has faced seven batters and has retired six of them, allowing one hit. The change has worked to perfection for coach Mike White and the Longhorns.
But we're still waiting for some offense.
B4 - Texas 0, Texas Tech 0
Texas threatened for the first time tonight, getting Mia Scott to third base on a walk and a single from Katie Stewart, but Naja Canady forced a ground ball to end the inning. She has three strikeouts and has allowed four hits through four innings.
Woahhhh that was a close one off the bat of Reese Atwood, as she just launched one into the sky in left, but foul. That's the kind of contact that Atwood has been looking for all tournament, and she was so close to getting it and being a hero yet again. But, NiJa Canady gets her swinging on an outside pitch to win the battle, sitting Atwood down for the second time tonight. Atwood pulled that foul ball so far, the best option was to either go with the change or go outside with it, and boy did it work. NiJa stomp count I believe is up to two.
Canady doesn't use her curveball often, but she might be leaning on it more tonight because man it has worked.
The pitching change pays off as the Red Raiders made some good contact in that half-inning, but nobody crosses the plate. The Longhorns used their dramatic shift on the left side of the infield again for Alana Johnson, who has been clutch for Texas Tech all postseason, bringing Kaydee Bennett over to the other side of second base.
As mentioned on the broadcast, Johnson has some power and can take things to the right side pretty consistently, but Texas has consistently pitched Johnson inside as a righty to get her to pull it and fall right into the trap of the shift. It has worked, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see that again until she proves them wrong.
T4 - Texas 0, Texas Tech 0
Mia Scott makes things look so easy at third base for Texas. She's a rock on that side of the field for the Longhorns and just made a couple of difficult plays look so simple.
It might be a good idea to not hit the ball at her (yes, that sounds easy, right?).
That's an unexpected pitching change for Texas, as Cambria Salmon comes into the circle for the Longhorns after Mac Morgan just went once through the Texas Tech order. Usually, coach Mike White has a short leash with Morgan, as she rarely sees the order a third time through, but Morgan was getting things done pretty effectively. Part of me thinks White is trying to make sure these Red Raiders batters never get comfortable, especially with the top of the order at the plate.
We are getting a defensive showcase so far from both teams, marked by another great play, this time by Texas Tech's Bailey Lindemuth. When slappers get an outside pitch, it's almost ideal: It makes it easier to slap the ball to the left side of the field. But if you're set up right as a third baseman and shortstop, it's an effective way for pitchers to pitch into that spot to practically ensure an out. But Lindemuth had to reach across for a backhand as that one from Kaydee Bennett and make a great throw across the diamond, and she did just that. We're still scoreless here in OKC.
B3 - Texas 0, Texas Tech 0
Texas had only four hits last night in six at-bats, but they have three hits already through the top of the third inning. Still, Nija Canady is working around those hits and has kept the Longhorns off the scoreboard. Can the Red Raiders' offense get going?
Patrick Mahomes just said he's super excited for softball to be back in the Olympics in 2028. You hear that everyone??? Time to get excited.
We are getting some defensive GEMS tonight! That was an incredible read by Ashton Maloney in right, making a leaping catch on that sinking liner by Bailey Lindemuth to sit down the Red Raiders 1-2-3 in the second for Mac Morgan.
T3 - Texas 0, Texas Tech 0
Nija Canady's diving catch on a bunt. Then a beautiful double play behind her.
But Texas is matching Texas Tech's defense. Mia Scott is just so smooth and talented at third base and makes things look easy. And then Ashton Maloney with a dynamic diving catch for the third out on a line drive.
These two teams are flashing some serious leather. Lauren Merola / The Athletic
Before that double play that fired up basically everyone, I was going to say one thing I've observed both yesterday and today is that NiJa Canady seems a little subdued (for her, at least). You wonder what the Red Raiders need to do for her to really get hyped and do a big foot stomp. I can't help but wonder if NiJa is waiting for everyone else to fire her up while they're waiting for her to do it ...