OKLAHOMA CITY — NiJaree Canady scattered six hits and pitched her way out of a seventh-inning jam, and Texas Tech forced a decisive third game in the Women's College World Series with a 4-3 victory over Texas in Game 2 on Thursday night.
The Game 3 showdown on Friday matches teams looking for their first national title.
Canady, who allowed a go-ahead, two-run single for Texas while trying to walk a member of the Longhorns in the sixth inning of an eventual 2-1 loss in the series opener on Wednesday, again went the distance for the Red Raiders. She has pitched every inning in the super regionals and World Series and carried a 4-1 lead to the seventh.
But Texas' Katie Stewart reached on an error by the shortstop and Canady hit Victoria Hunter to put runners on first and second with no outs. Leighann Goode doubled to left center, scoring Stewart and moving Hunter to third. Pinch-hitter Katie Cimusz lined out to left field and Hunter scored to cut the deficit to 4-3.
But Canady got Ashton Mahoney to ground out and struck out Kayden Henry to end the game.
''Last night was a test for us, and we're growing from everything that happens to us,'' Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco said. ''I told them after the game last night we learn 10 times more when we lose than when we win. We learned so much last night, and I think the bottom of seventh, our fortitude and our determination and the way we reacted there at the end was a testament to the toughness they're acquiring by playing these tough battles.''
Mac Morgan started for Texas and pitched two scoreless innings. Cambria Salmon entered and worked two scoreless before running into trouble in the fifth when Texas Tech loaded the bases with two outs. Salmon then hit Alana Johnson with a pitch to score Raegan Jennings from third and then thew a wild pitch that scored Mihya Davis, giving the Red Raiders a 2-0 lead.
The Longhorns answered in the sixth on a solo home run to left center to make it 2-1.
