****

In a fiercely contested Game 3, Kavan's unpretentious demeanor masked a true competitor who helped deliver Texas its inaugural national championship on Friday. Early in the game, Canady encountered trouble, yielding two runs within her first five batters. Goode promptly exploited the opportunity with a three-run homer, giving Texas a commanding 5-0 lead, marking the most runs Canady had conceded in a game since her Stanford tenure. Consequently, Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco opted to replace her with junior Chloe Riassetto and freshman Samantha Lincoln.

“Every college softball player is feeling fatigued right now,” Canady admitted post-game. "We certainly wished for a better outcome, but my commitment was to give everything for my teammates, particularly our seniors."

Goode's home run ignited the Texas crowd, with fans jubilantly tossing player cutouts and brandishing burnt-orange signs invoking the spirit of “Texas Fight.” The excitement escalated further in the bottom of the fourth inning when Scott smashed a grand slam, extending Texas' lead to 10-0. One enthusiastic supporter hoisted a sign proclaiming, "The only rings in Lubbock will be onion rings," which the Longhorns' mascot promptly seized to galvanize the crowd.

As the game progressed, the Texas and Texas Tech supporters became more polarized, akin to oil and water. Longhorns fans occupied the third base area, with their most ardent supporters positioned behind their bench, while Red Raiders fans mirrored this setup along the first base. Bright spots of other teams’ gear, including UCLA shirts and Oregon baseball caps, punctuated the predominant scarlet and burnt orange of the stadium.

Texas Tech fans, accompanied by alumnus Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany, brought their own energy and handmade signs such as "Raider Power" and "NiJa's fastball has its own zip code." The Red Raiders briefly revived their hopes by scoring three runs in the fifth inning and another in the seventh, yet couldn't surmount the deficit, concluding the game at 10-4.

Reflecting on the journey, Canady noted the significance of the Red Raiders’ progress. “Many teams experience a learning curve after reaching the World Series,” she remarked. “Texas did it last year, and Oklahoma had a historic run. To come from not making a regional last year to playing in a third game of the national championship series is significant. While it wasn’t the outcome we sought, we're proud of our accomplishments within such a short time.”

Texas Tech's commendable effort in their first Women's College World Series appearance this year signals a promising future, though they will have to wait another year for a shot at their first title.