Texas softball, the defending national champion, has won four consecutive elimination games to reach a rematch with Texas Tech in the Women’s College World Series finals. Over the past six seasons, the Longhorns are 19-4 in elimination games at the WCWS.
But Texas Tech (61-8) has won three straight elimination games itself and looks loaded to dethrone Texas (51-12) behind a dynamic one-two pitching punch of NiJaree Canady and Kaitlyn Terry. But the Longhorns have the game’s most clutch pitcher in Teagan Kavan as well as a loaded lineup led by the Smash Sisters, Katie Stewart and Reese Atwood.
Read below for live scores and updates Wednesday as the Texas Longhorns face the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Women’s College World Series.
Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan is up to three strike outs after fanning Mia Williams and Lauren Allred in the frame. She’s still just allowed the one hit, a first-inning homer by Mihyia Davis.
Tech reliever NiJaree Canady settles in and retires the Texas side in order, but a loaded Red Raider lineup is going to have to chip away at an early deficit.
Texas starter Teagan Kavan plunks Kaitlyn Terry, but that’s the only base-runner for Tech in the frame.
Hot Texas bats and cold Tech defense combine for a big Longhorn inning. Kayden Henry leads off with a bunt for a base hit, and Katie Stewart follows with a bomb to center field off starter Kaitlyn Terry that extends her single-season school record to 31 homers. That brings NiJaree Canady into the game to pitch for Tech with two outs, but Kaiah Altmeyer bangs a shot off the glove of Jackie Lis that allows Reese Atwood to score. LF Desirae Spearman then misplays a deep ball by Ashton Maloney which turns into a triple that drives in two. It’s officially six hits for Texas and and no errors for Tech.
Mihyia Davis launches a solo shot over the left-center fence off Teagan Kavan with one out, and the Red Raiders strike early. One hit, one run allowed. Kavan gave up a first-inning homer against Nebraska on Sunday, and the Horns won 3-1. They’ll hope for a repeat.
Texas starter Teagan Kavan throws a strike to Mia Williams, and we’re off in Game 1 of the WCWS final. Texas, the No. 2 overall seed, is the designated home team and will bat last.
Apparently, Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco has already starting his two pitching aces. He initially had pitcher NiJaree Canady in his starting lineup but has decided on Kaitlyn Terry for his starter. No coach can go wrong either option; Terry is 24-2 with a 1.80 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. Texas coach Mike White will counter with ace Teagan Kavan (28-6, 2.33 ERA, 1.07 WHIP), who threw her ninth complete-game WCWS win and her fifth complete-game WCWS shutout during a 4-0 victory in Game 2. She broke a WCWS record for complete-game shutouts that she shared with Longhorns legend Cat Osterman.
When: 7:07 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Devon Park, Oklahoma City
TV/radio: ESPN; texaslonghorns.com