On Wednesday night in Oklahoma City, Texas Tech superstar pitcher NiJaree Canady gave up what turned out to be the game-winning hit in Game 1 of the Women's College World Series finals on a botched attempt at an intentional walk of Texas catcher Reese Atwood.
What a difference 24 hours can make.
When the pressure was at its greatest and survival in the best-of-three WCWS championship series was on the line, Canady rose to the occasion to close out a 4-3 Red Raiders victory in Game 2 that evened the series and forced a decisive Game 3 on Friday at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN).
With the tying run 90 feet away for the Longhorns, Canady faced Texas' Kayden Henry with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. One swing of the bat from Henry could tie or even win the game -- and thereby the WCWS -- for Texas. Canady got ahead in the count, 0-2, with Henry taking both pitches. And then Canady fired strike three past Henry's bat to ensure there would be a winner-take-all Game 3.
The Red Raiders took advantage of a sloppy performance by the Longhorns. Texas Tech took a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning thanks to a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded followed by a wild pitch. While Texas responded in the top of the sixth with a solo home run from Mia Scott, a series of defensive miscues in the bottom of the frame enabled Texas Tech to score two more.
Demi Elder walked with one out, and Victoria Valdez then reached first base on a throwing error by Texas first baseman Joley Mitchell. Bailey Lindemuth followed with a sacrifice fly that scored pinch-runner Makayla Garcia from third. The next batter, Mihyia Davis, then reached on another error by Mitchell as the Red Raiders' fourth run crossed the plate.
Leading by a score of 4-1, Canady and Texas Tech needed three outs to secure a chance to play for the WCWS title Friday. But it wouldn't be easy.
Katie Stewart led off for Texas, hitting a sharp ground ball that shortstop Hailey Toney couldn't handle, enabling Stewart to reach first. Canady hit the next batter, Victoria Hunter, to bring the tying run to the plate with nobody out. Leighann Goode delivered an RBI double that was ever so close to being caught on a dive by Elder in left field. Hunter, who reached third on the play, scored on a sacrifice fly by the next batter, Katie Cimusz.
With the deficit cut to one, the Longhorns could see a potential walk-off victory to win the WCWS on the horizon. But Canady was undeterred, inducing a groundout from Ashton Maloney and sealing the victory with a strikeout of Henry.
In what has been a thrilling WCWS so far, it all comes down to Friday night.
Manny Randhawa is a reporter for MLB.com based in Denver.