Three swings illustrated the difference between the defending national champions and their young opponents; Texas softball is on the short list of teams that can win it all, and Baylor wants to get there someday.
Sunday’s 7-0 win at the Austin Regional moved the Horns one step closer to a third consecutive trip to the Women’s College World Series and earned coach Mike White his 16th consecutive regional round win — nine at Oregon and seven at Texas.
Article continues below this ad
Texas Longhorns outfielder Kayden Henry (21) runs home after a home run during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
The postgame celebration was a bit muted even though a giant regional bracket appeared on the field. Someone had already penciled in the 45-10 Longhorns as advancing to the super regionals, which means either the softball tournament organizers didn’t notice how cool it is when players stamp their team on the March Madness board during basketball or they were just ready to hit Pappadeaux’s for an early dinner.
Texas Longhorns head coach Mike White meets with players during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Sign up for Ced’s Corner
TEXAS VS. ARIZONA STATE
When/where: 8 p.m. Friday at McCombs Field
TV/radio: ESPN2; 1300 AM.
Sign up for Cedric Golden’s newsletter for hot takes and expert analysis each Tuesday on Texas Longhorns football and beyond. It’s called Ced’s Corner, from the mind of the American-Statesman’s resident sports columnist who was named the NSMA’s 2025 Texas Sportswriter of the Year.
Article continues below this ad
White drew big laughs when freshman infielder MaTaia Lawson placed a hideout brunette wig upon his bald head as the postgame celebration commenced at home plate. It was as if Kojak and Norman Bates had a baby. A very happy, 58-year-old baby.
MORE CED: How UIL track stars upstage George Strait at state meet
Article continues below this ad
So how did the players grade the new look?
“I’m not going to lie, coach,” center fielder Kayden Henry said postgame. “You did not rock it. It was like a good seven, but if you saw him in the Nutcracker, that was a 10.”
It’s good to have a little laugh, but White was quick to remind his players that business remains after their day off Monday.
“We want to stay grounded,” White said. “We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. It’s a great achievement and we do celebrate in our own way. I told the team to just take the time to soak it all in and then get ready. It’s just another step in our quest. We want to keep things alive and keep playing.”
Article continues below this ad
The Horns are anything but complacent. They have a championship and are still hungry for more.
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) gives the ball to pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) during the NCAA Softball Championship Regional final against Baylor at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Here come the Sun Devils
Their next opponent — Big 12 Tournament champion Arizona State — has caught fire after finishing 11-13 in Texas’ former league.
Article continues below this ad
The Sun Devils will earn a reputation as a Lone Star State killer if they can eliminate the Longhorns one weekend after rolling into the College Station Regional and ruining a Texas vs. Texas A&M showdown. ASU edged the Aggies 4-3 Saturday and then followed up with a 9-1 run-rule blowout in the finale that ended with a grand slam in the fifth inning.
BASEBALL: Schlossnagle explains short Riojas outing
About those three aforementioned swings …
They were all courtesy of the Texas Power Company that put Baylor’s lights out, ending the Bears’ season at 30-28. Before Henry and first baseman Katie Stewart homered on consecutive pitches in the sixth inning and Reese Atwood followed with a bomb a few pitches later, the Horns were already comfortably in front — and for those who disagree with a 3-0 as comfortable, be reminded that All-America pitcher Teagan Kavan was on the mound.
Article continues below this ad
The junior ace allowed only three hits and just one of those left the infield. On the offensive side, the Horns cracked four homers and had zero strikeouts.
Texas is a product of experiences
The Horns don’t have this championship mentality because it arrived on their doorstep via Amazon. This success was built through tough times, which were bound to happen for a team that’s been in the same conference as the powerful Oklahoma Sooners. While OU is still the sports’ most decorated program of the decade, the Horns are a perennial contender with players who came of age earlier than usual.
The Horns are a product of their experiences, good and bad. It’s what has them primed for this moment. They’re still two wins away from Oklahoma City and a chance to become only the second team on campus in a traditional team sport to repeat as national champions after volleyball did it in 2022 and 2023.
Article continues below this ad
“Obviously, we have a lot of girls that have been in this position and played in the tournament,” Henry said. “I think we kind of just work together to lean on each other and provide information and understanding the feelings and the emotions that go into this tournament.”
The championship DNA was evident all weekend and it’s refreshing to see a team with a national championship already in the trophy case eager to avoid being a one-hit wonder. They jumped on their opponents early in each game with a 6-1 edge in the first inning of the three games.
Stewart did nothing to hurt her case for national player of the year honors with a two-run blast to put the Horns up early. Like several in the past, it bounced off the graduate student apartment building located 30 feet behind the left field wall.
“I’m glad it hit the building because it might be in Waco right now,” Baylor coach Glenn Ford said.
Article continues below this ad
The Horns don’t appear to be the same team that went 7-7 in April. Peaking at the right time is a cliché but in Texas’ case, it’s ringing true.
“We want to make sure we put the pressure on early,” Stewart said. “Supers is always a tough time just because everybody is ready to play. They don’t want their season to be over.”
Texas will be tested, but the guess here is the Horns will be around for a while.
Article continues below this ad