Texas Tech intentionally walking a Texas batter brutally backfired
Texas Tech tried to intentionally walk a Texas player during Game 1 of the Women's College World Series, and it painfully backfired.
Everything was seemingly going well for both teams as they got out of jam after jam, preventing the other from scoring. However, the Red Raiders broke the stalemate first in the fifth inning after they drove in a run. The Longhorns weren't far behind. In the sixth inning, they put up two runs on a play that was so wild you have to see it to believe it.
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Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady was mid-intentional walk when disaster struck. Canady delivered multiple high pitches in hopes of loading the bases with catcher Reese Atwoood. But the ace let one pitch get too flat on her, and boom. Atwood drove in a two-run single (her first hit during the entire NCAA softball tournament). That ultimately was enough to secure the Longhorns' 2-1 win.
There's some kind of painful sports irony in watching Canady, the best pitcher in softball, unable to get the looks she wanted with an intentional walk, but Atwood seemed totally prepared for it."NiJa's a great pitcher. Props to her," Atwood said postgame. "I knew it took one pitch, and I knew I had my confidence all the way throughout this series, even without a hit. It makes it easy when there are so many girls on this roster that are doing their jobs and hitting. It takes the pressure off of me."
We can't say we've ever seen someone drive in two runs on an intentional walk, but that's why postseason softball is the best.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Texas Tech intentionally walking a Texas batter in WCWS badly backfired
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