Texas Tech softball’s NiJaree Canady takes ownership of failed intentional walk to Reese Atwood.
OKLAHOMA CITY — NiJaree Canady is usually blunt and to the point whenever speaking to the media. She was even more straightforward Wednesday night after Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series championship series.
Canady was cruising through the first 5-2/3 innings, allowing just one hit and totaling seven strikeouts as the Texas Tech softball team built a 1-0 lead over Texas. She appeared on her way to another statement win.Texas began mounting a comeback, hitting a pair of singles to get runners on first and third with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Canady looked at her pitch communications watch and shook her head. She was being asked to walk Texas’ All-American catcher Reese Atwood.
Texas Tech head coach Gerry Glasco said he didn’t want to take a chance against someone he considers among the best hitters in the country with a base open.Atwood said the first pitch from Canady was a bit in the zone, so she was paying attention to where the next few balls were thrown throughout the at-bat.I knew I was gonna have to take a risk,” Atwood said, “to do something for my team.”
On the 3-0 offering, Atwood swung and drove a ball into the outfield, scoring the game-tying and game-winning runs. Texas Tech got a runner on base in the top of the seventh but was able to mount a comeback of its own, giving the Longhorns a 1-0 lead in the series
I’m a college pitcher,” Canady said.” I’m a junior now, so I should be able to do that.”
Atwood had been hitless in the WCWS up until that game-winning hit off of Canady.
“She was 0-for-10 (in the WCWS) and they were intentionally walking her,” Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan said.
Glasco credited Atwood for being in the moment and seeing where the pitches were, and for not settling for the walk and letting that be that.Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady (24) looks up after giving up two runs in the seventh inning Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series championship series between the Texas Longhorns at Texas Tech Red Raiders at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Texas won 2-1.
Canady said after the game that wasn’t her first time trying to intentionally walk somebody in her career, but she put the burden of the moment on herself.
“I made that mistake,” Canady said. “That loss is on me and I apologize to my team.”
Stoic and staring straight ahead between inquiries about the game-deciding play, Canady was again asked about attempting to intentionally walk Atwood
