Texas beat Texas Tech 10-4 in Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) finals to win their first national championship in program history. The Longhorns were so dominant in the game that they nearly ended the game early due to a ridiculous rule.
College softball has a run rule to help preserve pitchers, especially since so many teams play 3-game series. The rule also extends through the NCAA Tournament, and was added for the WCWS beginning in 2023.
The rule stipulates that a game ends early if a team is up by at least 8 runs after five innings. If a home team is leading by 8 runs or more after 4.5 innings, the game would be declared over via the run rule.
On Friday, Texas knocked Texas Tech star pitcher NiJaree Canaday out of the game by scoring five runs against her in the first inning. The Longhorns led 10-0 after four innings and were an out away from securing a win via the run rule before Texas Tech scored three runs to extend the game.
Texas Tech eventually lost 10-4, and the thought of them coming back from down 10-0 was a stretch. However, it’s absurd to think that they wouldn’t have been given 21 outs to try to make a comeback. This is the championship. The last game of the season. There is no reason to end a game prematurely. In fact, there’s no reason the run rule should be in effect for the Women’s College World Series as a whole.
A championship team should have to get at least 21 outs in the final game, and a championship contender needs to be given 21 outs. No title game should end on a mercy rule. The NCAA needs to adjust that.
