Texas Longhorns Win Game 1 of WCWS Finals Over Texas Tech on Chaos-Filled Play During Attempted Intentional Walk in Extra Innings

In one of the wildest finishes in Women’s College World Series history, the Texas Longhorns claimed a dramatic victory over in-state rival Texas Tech in Game 1 of the championship series. The 6-5 win, which came in extra innings, will be remembered not only for the stakes but also for the surreal sequence that led to the walk-off — a hit during what was supposed to be an intentional walk attempt.

For a game that had already featured clutch hitting, defensive gems, and a pair of lead changes, it was the bizarre final moment that sent fans at Devon Park and watching around the country into a frenzy. With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and the score tied 5-5, Texas Tech elected to intentionally walk Texas slugger Reese Atwood, who had already homered earlier in the contest. But in a moment of miscommunication or poor execution — depending on the perspective — the pitch intended to be outside drifted back over the plate, and Atwood took a full swing. She lined the ball into left-center, allowing the runner on second base to round third and score easily.

That swing, part defiance and part instinct, may now live in WCWS lore. The celebration that followed was as euphoric as it was chaotic, with Texas players pouring out of the dugout, helmets flying, gloves tossed skyward, and Atwood mobbed near second base. Head coach Mike White called it “one of the gutsiest at-bats I’ve ever seen,” while even Texas Tech head coach Craig Snider conceded, “It’s not how we drew it up. It’s a tough way to lose, but hats off to her for swinging the bat.”

The game began with tension befitting a championship clash between two teams that know each other all too well. Texas, the No. 1 overall seed and the presumptive favorite, came in riding high off a dominant run through the bracket. Texas Tech, the underdog story of the tournament, had clawed its way through elimination games and was playing with house money.

Early on, the Red Raiders struck first. In the top of the second, sophomore catcher Lily Canales laced a double down the left-field line and was brought home by a sharp single from designated player Peyton Blythe. The lead was short-lived, however, as Texas answered with a two-run shot from Atwood in the bottom half of the frame. It was Atwood’s fourth home run of the tournament, a blast that measured 239 feet and ricocheted off the scoreboard.

From there, the teams traded blows like prizefighters. Texas Tech’s Jordyn Whitaker tied it with a solo homer in the fourth, only for Texas to retake the lead in the fifth on a run-scoring single by Viviana Martinez. The Red Raiders rallied yet again, this time scoring twice in the sixth, with a clutch RBI double by freshman phenom Mia Valdez setting the stage for a go-ahead sac fly by center fielder Kenzie Kilfoyl.

Texas, unshaken, forced extra innings with a dramatic seventh-inning rally. Alyssa Washington reached on an error, and with two outs, Bella Dayton lined a game-tying triple into the right-field gap. The momentum seemed to swing completely back in favor of the Longhorns as their dugout roared to life and the orange-clad fans erupted.

Still, neither team was ready to give in. Both sides had golden chances in the eighth. Texas Tech got a runner to third with one out, but Texas reliever Estelle Czech induced a pop-up and a groundout to end the threat. In the bottom of the frame, Martinez led off with a single and was moved to second on a textbook sacrifice bunt. That’s when Atwood walked to the plate, and Snider signaled for the intentional walk.

In postgame comments, Snider explained the reasoning: “Reese is probably the most dangerous hitter in the country right now. We didn’t want to let her beat us.” But the execution of the plan unraveled. The first pitch was outside, taken without incident. The second, however, floated closer to the plate. Atwood, known for her aggressive approach, didn’t hesitate. She jumped on it.

“I just saw it and reacted,” Atwood said after the game. “I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful. I’ve never been walked intentionally before, and when I saw it coming over the plate, I just swung. Instinct took over.”

The swing not only ended the game but might have flipped the entire championship series. Texas now leads 1-0 in the best-of-three and will have two chances to claim the program’s first national title since 2005. Game 2 is set for Thursday evening, with the Longhorns expected to send ace Mac Morgan back to the circle.

Despite the heartbreaking finish, Texas Tech was far from demoralized after the game. “That’s a resilient group in our dugout,” Snider said. “We’ve been doubted all season, and we’ll be ready for tomorrow. One play doesn’t define this team.”

Indeed, the Red Raiders proved throughout the postseason that they belong on this stage. They outlasted higher-seeded opponents, leaned on timely hitting and solid pitching, and embraced their role as spoilers. If anything, Game 1’s outcome only adds fuel to their fire.

Meanwhile, Texas enters Game 2 with the swagger of a team that believes destiny is on its side. The Longhorns have answered every challenge this postseason, from comeback wins to pitching duels. And in a sport where emotion and momentum often matter just as much as stats, that chaotic swing in the eighth might just be the spark that carries them to glory.

But there are questions to ponder for both sides. Will Texas Tech alter its strategy if Atwood comes up in another high-leverage spot? Will emotions boil over if the teams clash physically or verbally in the next game? And what about the umpires’ handling of the unusual play — was it legal, fair, and within the spirit of the game?

By rule, a batter can swing at any pitch during an intentional walk attempt. It’s rare, but not unprecedented. Still, it’s one of those unwritten-code moments that sparks endless debate. Did Atwood break a taboo? Did Texas Tech leave the door open for such an outcome? Either way, it’s a lesson in execution under pressure.

As for Atwood, she shrugged off the controversy. “We’re just trying to win a title,” she said. “That’s all that matters.”

And in the WCWS, where legends are made and heartbreaks are stitched into the fabric of the game, that attitude might be the difference. For now, Texas stands one win away from championship glory. Texas Tech, their hopes still flickering, has to summon every ounce of fight left in them.

What’s certain is this: Game 1 of the 2025 Women’s College World Series finals will be remembered for a long time — for its tension, its unpredictability, and a swing that shouldn’t have happened… but did.