Texas softball players celebrate senior catcher Reese Atwood’s record breaking home run as she runs into home plate on Thursday, Feb. 12. Atwood reached a career 59 home runs to break the record.
Atwood entered the first game of the Bevo Classic tied for the most career home runs by a Texas player. When she approached the plate, the anticipation was palpable, but her first two at-bats were underwhelming. With a walk in the first inning and a groundout to Abilene Christian University’s shortstop in third, Atwood used her veteran poise to secure the record in the fourth.
“I was just looking for something in the zone that I can hit, and I trust myself to be able to do damage,” Atwood said.
Three home runs powered Texas to an 11-0, five-inning victory over ACU in the home opener of the 2026 season. Behind a dominant showing in the circle and an aggressive, opportunistic offense that capitalized on nearly every scoring chance, the Longhorns secured their second consecutive run-rule win.
Breaking this record was a long time coming for Atwood. When she joined the team, head coach Mike White saw the potential she had to make her mark on the program.
“It’s great to see her joy on her face and to get that record,” White said. “That’s one thing she said to me, that she wanted to get some records, and she’s surely doing that with this program.”
It wasn’t just Atwood who had a standout game. Freshman pitcher Hannah Wells started in the lineup as well as in the circle, giving up no earned runs and one hit with five strikeouts. With an army of burnt orange watching her make her debut at home, she hit a long ball to left field for a three-run home run.
White is looking to give Wells the confidence she needs to start in the circle and the opportunities she requires to set records with her bat.
“Coach Earleywine has a lot of confidence in her, and he definitely believes she can hit double-digit home runs, and I think she can too, but she’s got to get enough at-bats to be able to do that,” White said. “That’s going to be the hard thing with such a deep lineup.”
ACU’s pitching wasn’t a match for Texas’ batters. Junior pitcher Leah Meyer gave up four earned runs in the first inning, and junior pitcher Makayla Valle gave up six.
Texas’ ability to score off the Wildcats’ mistakes was on full display tonight. After getting on base off a hit, junior outfielder Kayden Henry stole two bases to get into scoring position. Junior infielder Viviana Martinez was able to capitalize on a passed ball and move onto third base, proving to herself and the fans that her season-ending injury in 2025 hasn’t affected her risk-taking mentality.
The fourth inning was enough for the Longhorns, ending their second consecutive game in a mercy rule after keeping the Wildcats scoreless in five innings.
Texas will return to McCombs Field tomorrow to take on Ohio State and Syracuse University in a Friday doubleheader.