Texas Tech Forces Game 3 with 4-3 Win Over Texas in WCWS Final

The Texas Tech Red Raiders came through big in Game 2 of the Women's College World Series championship series on Thursday night, beating the Texas Longhorns 4-3 to force a winner-take-all Game 3.

Another 50-minute weather delay didn't stop the Red Raiders from getting going. In the fifth inning, they broke through after a slow start. Reagan Jennings scored the first run of the game when a pitch with the bases full hit him. Tech was ahead 2-1 after another run was scored on a wild ball.

In the sixth, Texas scored a solo home run to cut the lead in half, but Tech quickly answered. Before, Victoria Valdez missed a steal sign, but she made up for it by scoring from second on the next play. Another run by the Red Raiders made it 4-1, but the Longhorns tried to come back in the top of the seventh.

Tech's NiJaree Canady was great in the circle again, scattering six hits, giving up three earned runs, and striking out six. Even though she gave up two late runs, she stopped Texas's last drive to seal the win in front of a loud crowd that included Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his family. Mahomes is a proud Texas Tech graduate.

The Red Raiders' attack got five hits, but they left eight people on base. Still, they took advantage of key Longhorn mistakes and played tough base running to keep their hopes of winning the title alive.

Game 3 of the WCWS final will take place on Friday at 7 p.m., and the national title is on the line. It's the newest and most significant part of the long-running feud between the two states.