Victoria Hunter decided not to speak to reporters after her latest postseason clutch moment Saturday night.
She was saving her energy for Game 3 after saving Texas softball’s season.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Viviana Martinez (23) celebrates a score by designated player Victoria Hunter (12) during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
It’s not to say the Longhorns’ pinch-hitter would see action in Sunday’s Austin Super Regional rubber match against upset-minded Arizona State because the .231 hitter hasn’t been part of Texas’ regular rotation (just three starts this season after making 20 in 2025). The only numbers that matter are the two runs that crossed the plate after her two-run pinch-hit blast in the sixth inning lifted the defending national champions from the precipice of NCAA elimination to an electrifying 4-3 win at McCombs Field.
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Hunter’s heroics and Citlaly Gutierrez’s clutch relief pitching sets up a Sunday afternoon finale and an opportunity to make it to a third straight Women’s College World Series.
“The cardiac kids are still alive,” UT coach Mike White said.
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This kind of win could be the fire-starter the Horns needed to rid themselves of the pesky Sun Devils, who caught fire in the postseason after finishing sixth in the Big 12.
White would like nothing more than to get it done at McCombs Field and if it comes with a spike in his blood pressure, so be it.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez (77) celebrates winning game two of the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
“Winning any way is good, but obviously you’d much rather do it the easy way,” he said. “But this game is not built that way anymore. I remember back when it was like a 1-0 pitchers’ duel and that’s not the case anymore. It’s a rarity.”
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His team earned it because Arizona State played near-perfect softball, that is until third baseman Emily Schepp’s error opened the fifth inning and helped start a Texas rally from 2-0 deficit to a 2-2 tie on Katie Stewart’s double and Reese Atwood’s single. Undaunted, the Sun Devils regained the lead on Georgetown product Samantha Swan’s solo homer in the bottom half, pushing the Horns ever closer to the offseason.
Then Hunter stepped into the batter’s box.
Hunter was ready
A three-time TAPPS All-State selection at Houston St. Pius IX — the same school that produced NFL quarterback/head coach Gary Kubiak — Hunter has settled in mostly as a pinch-hit option. She obviously subscribes to the mantra we learned from our wisest elders.
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If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.
We all remember when Hunter came off the bench cold in the 2024 Austin Regional and hit a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to spur a near-comeback win over Texas A&M. That came two weeks after she hit a pinch-hit bomb in a win over Baylor in a Big 12 Tournament semifinal.
Neither compares to what she did Saturday. It’s been a history making spring for Hunter, who graduated in three years with a bachelor’s degree in public relations along with being accepted into the McCombs School of Business to pursue a Master’s of Science in Finance.
That makes sense because she was absolute money with her team’s postseason hanging in the balance.
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Texas Longhorns designated player Victoria Hunter (12) celebrates a home run during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
“She’s very carefree and she does have that fire to her,” Stewart said. “She brings life to this team and she’s really ready for any moment — any opportunity that she gets — and so when she gets them, she’s going to leave it all out there for anybody.”
As for the Sun Devils, coach Megan Bartlett made no excuses after coming oh so close to ending Texas’ season. She also had no regrets with replacing starter Meika Lappe while up 2-0 in the fifth inning with Kenzie Brown, who went from unhittable in Friday’s opener to giving up five hits, including Hunter’s big blow.
“We’re going to take our shot,” Bartlett said. “We’re going to hand it over to our first-team All-American.”
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The way the Sun Devils have played these last two evenings, nothing suggests they have lost any confidence.
“With playing with house money,” Bartlett said. “We just pushed Texas into a Game 3 of the Super (Regionals) and we are not supposed to be here, so I’m excited. I love postseason softball. I think it’s the big part of why I still coach, honestly.”
What’s on the line Sunday?
Only eight teams get a chance to play in Oklahoma City each year and Sunday’s winner will have its hands full with Tennessee.
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While the Sun Devils are playing with house money, the Horns still haven’t played their best all-around game. The good news on the Forty is the usual suspects — Kayden Henry, Stewart and Reese Atwood — flashed championship form in Game 2 while Gutierrez was solid with five innings of three-hit ball while surrendering just one run on Shaw’s homer.
Whoever wins it will earn it and carry a heavy dose of momentum and confidence into OKC.
Expect to see All-Americans Teagan Kavan and Brown renew acquaintances as starters in Game 3 with everything on the line.
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It’s time to see if Hunter’s titanic blast will lead to Texas sinking the Sun Devils for good.