On February 27 through March 1, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns (15-1) softball team hosted and swept the Longhorn Invitational at McCombs Field with the University of Houston (12-5), St. Bonaventure (0-17), Prairie View A&M (7-10), and the University of Incarnate Word (13-6) in participation of the tournament.
On Feb. 27, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns launched the Longhorn Invitational with opening game one against the University of Houston. In the first, the Cougars popped off with a homer by left fielder Ariel Redmond opening the top, 1-0. In the bottom of the first, senior catcher Reese Atwood slaps a RBI single down left to even out the score, 1-1. Texas continued to stroke with designated player MaTaia Lawson knocking a single into right field with 2 RBIs extending the lead, 3-1. True freshman Longhorn third basemen Jaycie Nichols strikes a RBI single up the middle ending the first, 4-1. In the bottom of the second, junior shortstop Viviana Martinez knocks an RBI single to the pitcher while teammate Atwood hits a double to right center with another RBI. Lastly in the bottom second, junior first basemen Katie Stewart launches a two run home run to left center bringing the second to a close, 8-1. In the bottom of the third, Martinez collected another RBI with a single to right field extending the Texas lead, 9-1. On the mound, senior righty Citlaly Gutierrez (4-0) started for Texas and tossed 4 innings collecting 2 strikeouts and only gave up 3 hits and a run along with true freshmen righty Hannah Wells closed the game out for the Longhorns 9-1 win with 2 strikeouts while just pitching one frame.
On Feb. 28, the No. 3 Longhorns started double header with game one against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. In the bottom of the first, Texas lit up the scoreboard starting with Lawson stealing second base to lure the Bonnies into a trap for the junior center fielder Kayden Henry to steal home opening op the score, 1-0. As the bottom of the first continued, senior left fielder Kaiah Altmeyer hits in an RBI after double to center while teammate Stewart slaps a RBI single to center extending the Longhorn lead, 3-0. The Longhorns continued to put the pressure on the Bonnies with true freshman right fielder Alisa Sneed launing a grand slam into left center ending the opening inning, 7-0. In the bottom of the second, Stewart dropped her own three run bomb into left center bringing the ten run-rule effect in early closing the second, 10-0. In the bottom of the fourth fireworks continued with a two solo home runs from Atwood with a shot into left center and the junior pinch hitter Victoria Hunter with a rocket to left putting Texas, 12-0. In the top of the fifth, the Bonnies went down swinging scoring from a botched grounder by Texas second baseman Kaydee Bennett and a bobbled scoop and throw from third to first by Lawson bring the ten run-rule into effect at 12-2. Sophomore lefty Brenlee Gonzales (2-0) tossed all 5 frames for the No. 3 Longhorns serving 4 strikeouts with only giving up 4 hits and 2 runs in the ten run win.
As game two kicked off against Prairie View A&M, the No. 3 Longhorns opened up the bottom of the first with Henry scoring off a botched throw from the Panther catcher Michelle Meeks and Atwood hitting a RBI ground out to the shortstop putting Texas up, 2-0. In the bottom of the second, Henry smashed 2 RBIs by doubling down the left field line extending Texas’ lead, 4-0. As the second came to a close, Henry scored again from a Panther fielding error in right field making the score 5-0. In the bottom of the third, Henry continued to make highlights for Texas with a double to left center bringing in 2 runs while Stewart claims an RBI after being walked bringing th inning, 8-0. Sophomore righty Cambria Salmon (3-0) started on the mound for Texas tossing 3 innings claiming 6 strikeouts and just giving up 4 hits with teammate Wells closing out tossing 2 frames and giving up one hit in the 8-0 win.
On March 1, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns hosted the final game of the Longhorn Invitational with game one against the Incarnate Word Cardinals winning, 8-0. In the bottom of the first, the Longhorns opened up the scoring with an RBI double from Atwood and an RBI groundout to the shortstop from Stewart putting Texas up, 2-0. In the Bottom of the second, Henry grabs an RBI grounding out to the second basemen and shortly Nichols scores from a wild pitch extending the Longhorn lead, 4-0. As the game continued in the bottom of the fourth, Henry dropped a three run bomb into left field putting Texas at 7-0. As the match came to a close in the bottom of the sixth, Altmeyer knocks a RBI triple into center bring the score with Texas up, 8-0. On the mound all afternoon for Texas was junior righty Teagan Kavan (8-0) pitching all 6 frames while nabbing 10 strikeouts and tossing a 8-0 no hit win against the Cardinals.
Next, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns open up conference on the road in Columbia, South Carolina facing the South Carolina Gamecocks with game one on March 6 at 5 pm central.