Before conference play tightens the stakes, No. 3 Texas softball will test itself at the DeMarini Invitational in Palo Alto. The Longhorns will face No. 10 Stanford, No. 16 Arizona, Boise State and Santa Clara this weekend.
Texas had a strong showing at the Bevo Classic, ending four of the five games in a run-rule and giving multiple players chances to prove themselves on the field.
“We just try to play the game one inning at a time, and just continue to work on that process of it,” head coach Mike White said. “We (were) very happy with the offense this weekend.”
Pitching depth will likely define the weekend, with two doubleheaders against multiple ranked opponents. In order to conserve endurance throughout the long invitational, Texas will have to utilize most, if not all, of its pitching talent. Freshman pitcher and utility Hannah Wells has shown strength in the circle and behind the plate. Wells has given up seven earned runs in five games, all against a ranked Nebraska.
Sophomore pitcher Cambria Salmon got quite a bit of time in the circle at the Bevo Classic, after her on-field experience at the Women’s College World Series. Last weekend, she pitched 9.1 combined innings against Ohio State and Syracuse and gave up two earned runs. Despite being Texas’ ace, junior pitcher Teagan Kavan has started the season slow, pitching just 2.1 innings against Ohio State and giving up seven hits and five runs. Still, Kavan has her team’s full confidence.
“Teagan was an absolute force in the circle last year coming in June, and that’s what matters,” senior infielder Leighann Goode said.
After facing four unranked teams last weekend, the Longhorns are traveling outside the state for the first time this season to test the team’s chemistry and mental strength.
The Arizona Wildcats faced No. 4 Oklahoma three times during opening weekend, beating the Sooners the first time they met, 11-6. Arizona relied on senior pitcher Jalen Adams that game, who has already pitched 35.1 innings this season with 12 strikeouts and 12 earned runs.
Arizona is also stacked offensively. Senior utility Grace Jenkins had two runs and four RBIs off one hit, and senior infielder Tayler Biehl recorded four RBIs and one run against the Sooners. The Wildcats will use their roster’s experience to compete with the Longhorns’ power-hitters, like senior catcher Reese Atwood and junior infielder and catcher Katie Stewart.
The Stanford Cardinals and the Longhorns have met five times since 2024, the most recent being a 9-5 Stanford victory last February. Stanford freshman infielder Addyson Sheppard has proven herself early this season with 10 hits and five runs in 23 at-bats. Additionally, she’s racked up nine RBIs and one home run.
“We went out and played Stanford in Arizona early last year, and Stanford beat us up pretty good. They’re very talented,” White said. “Of course, Arizona is hitting the ball well also, so it should be a good matchup. And then of course Boise State and Santa Clara, get too far ahead of yourself and they can jump up and bite you.”
Texas will face Arizona and Stanford in a Friday doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. CT.