Reese Atwood sends Texas past Texas Tech in Game 1 of WCWS - ESPN

OKLAHOMA CITY — Texas slugger Reese Atwood knew that if her Longhorns were going to rally to beat Texas Tech and superstar pitcher NiJaree Canady in Game 1 of the Women's College World Series finals Wednesday night, she would have to take a risk.

So, as Canady tried to toss ball four of an intentional walk attempt, Atwood swung.

«I saw my opportunity,» Atwood said, «and I took it.»

Atwood smacked what would have been ball four to left field to score a pair of Texas runners in the bottom of the sixth inning, and the Longhorns stunned Texas Tech 2-1 to take the opener of the best-of-three championship series at Devon Park.

Canady had shut the Longhorns down all game, holding them to just a single runner in scoring position before the sixth inning.

But after two more Canady strikeouts, back-to-back singles and stolen bases by Kayden Henry and Mia Scott gave Texas life.

Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco instructed Canady to intentionally walk Atwood to load the bases and set up the force out at any base. The call was made even though Atwood, Texas' cleanup hitter, had yet to record a hit at the WCWS, going 0-for-10 to that point, her longest hitting drought of the season, according to ESPN Research.

Afterward, Glasco defended the decision.

«I didn't want to pitch to maybe the best hitter in the country,» he said of Atwood, an All-American who entered the night batting .398 with 21 home runs on the season. «You got to give her credit. She wanted to play ball. She wanted to make a play. And she made a difference in the game at a time when we were trying to take her out of the game.»

Canady had not attempted an intentional walk all year, according to ESPN Research. Still, the reigning USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year took