Texas Longhorns’ starting pitcher/relief pitcher Hannah Wells (13) winds up to pitch as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
The Longhorns react as Texas Longhorns’ starting pitcher/relief pitcher Hannah Wells (13) scores a home run during the fourth inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
The Longhorns react as Texas Longhorns’ starting pitcher/relief pitcher Hannah Wells (13) scores a home run during the fourth inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Viviana Martinez (23) reacts to a play during the fourth inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ outfielder Ashton Maloney (7) slides into second base during the fourth inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Victoria Hunter (12) bats during the fourth inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Viviana Martinez (23) reacts to a play during the fourth inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ starting pitcher/relief pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez (77) pitches during the first inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Viviana Martinez (23) looks to pass during the first inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ outfielder Kayden Henry (21) runs to first base during the first inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ utility Katie Stewart (20) runs to first base during the first inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ outfielder Kayden Henry (21) runs home during the first inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ starting pitcher/relief pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez (77) pitches during the second inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) and Texas Longhorns’ utility Katie Stewart (20) miss tagging out a Seahawks player during the second inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas fans cheer during the second inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) runs to first base during the second inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ outfielder Ashton Maloney (7) runs to first base as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) catches a pop-up during the second inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Seahawk players react as the second inning ends as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Players react to a call during the second inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ utility Katie Stewart (20) runs to third base during the third inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ utility Leighann Goode (43) passes to a teammate as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) slides into second base during the fourth inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) slides into third base during the fourth inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Jaycie Nichols (24) and Texas Longhorns’ utility Katie Stewart (20) miss tagging out a Seahawks player during the second inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Viviana Martinez (23) rounds second base during the fourth inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ outfielder Ashton Maloney (7) slides into second base during the fourth inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Victoria Hunter (12) bats during the fourth inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas fans cheer as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns’ infielder Victoria Hunter (12) reacts to a play during the fourth inning as the Longhorns take on Wagner a NCAA Tournament game at McCombs Field in Austin, Friday, May 15, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
AUSTIN — The coach clearly thought his softball team was feeling a bit jittery with the first game of the NCAA tournament.
As a result, he really wasn’t all that surprised his ballclub had to work through a case of some nerves before the 2,072 at McCombs Field Friday.
That probably was to be expected, given the fact unseeded Wagner College with just 2,000 students was making its NCAA postseason debut and with a losing record at that. Few figured the Seahawks would make a ripple in the tournament or create any news bigger than former Rockets Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady signing on this week as a strategic advisor for the Wagner men’s basketball team.
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But it was head coach Mike White who had some moments of anxiety when his second-ranked Longhorns fell behind 1-0 in the first inning and his surprise starter Citlaly Gutierrez had to be removed after just two subpar innings.
“They weren’t deterred at all,” an impressed White said of the Seahawks from Staten Island, N.Y., who looked anything but overwhelmed. “They came out firing, and we came out a little unnerved. We let the pressure get to us in the first couple of innings and let the moment get too high. Luckily, we came through with a big margin, in no small part due to Hannah Wells.”
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Wells came on in relief of Gutierrez, and the freshman pitcher who was last year’s Gatorade Player of the Year at Coahoma was marvelous with seven strikeouts and three shutout innings in a 9-1, run-rule victory to start the Austin regional. Not that that was a surprise because this is a seasoned rookie pitcher who struck out 258 batters in 127⅔ innings for a three-time state 3A Division II champion. When she wasn’t going 22-1 in 23 high school starts with 15 shutouts and two perfect games to go with a 0.44 earned run average, she was raking at the plate with a .602 batting average, a state-record 31 home runs and 75 RBI.
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White knows exactly what he has and that explains his comfort in going with Gutierrez and Wells and saving wear and tear on his All-American ace Teagan Kavan, who will pitch for Texas (43-10) against Wisconsin (33-19) on Saturday after the Badgers dodged Baylor 2-1 in nine innings Friday.
“When Hannah first started, I thought we were playing ‘Major Leagues.’ You know, the Wild Thing (character in the movie). Just classic overthrowing,” White said. “Just trying to throw too hard. Today she just let the ball work. She told me today, ‘My ball’s tailing,’ and I said, ‘Don’t touch a thing.’ It’s just pleasing to see her growth already, and there’s a lot of opportunity for her to get even better.”
Wells improved to 6-3 on the season but wasn’t the least bit nervous.
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“She had full confidence,” said Texas shortstop Viviana Martinez, who drove in three runs with three hits after missing all of last season because of knee surgery.
While the Seahawks came into the game with a 22-26 record and a reputation earned for its liberal arts programs and famous alumni like actress Fran Drescher, NFL coach Rich Kotite and college basketball coach-turned-analyst P.J. Carlesimo more than its softball, they were far from intimidated.
Wagner stunned Texas from the outset, scoring a run off Gutierrez on Payton Janicki’s RBI double after the Longhorn senior had walked and hit a batter.
“We felt confident,” Janicki said. “We have nothing to lose here. No one expected us to be here, but we believe we can compete with any team here. We went toe to toe with them for a couple of innings, but it didn’t go our way.”
It didn’t in large part because Martinez drove in three runs with two doubles and a single in an 11-hit Texas attack and because Wells was locked in on the mound and produced her finest performance as a Longhorn.
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Wells needed no introduction to Wagner because the Seahawks were well aware that Wells is a freshman 6-foot right-hander with a power arm that can reach 70 mph with her fastball along with a drop ball that mesmerized her opponents.
“I felt really confident today,” said Wells, who is battling a knee injury but also homered for the 14th time this season to lead off a five-run fourth inning. “I was just playing for my team, playing for something bigger than myself, and I had full confidence in my defense to make the plays behind me.”
Not that there were all that many plays to make. Wells was throwing her 68-mph rise ball past the Seahawks and struck out a season-high seven of the nine batters she faced in the abbreviated appearance.
“Her drop ball was definitely getting us big-tie the last couple of innings,” Janicki said. “She’s got three years left (in her career), and she’ll definitely make a statement, moving forward.”
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Wells wasn’t the only rookie making an impact. True freshman Jaycie Nichols, entrusted with third base after Mia Scott redefined that position as the gold standard, played some exceptional defense but also had a pair of hits.
White was clearly trying to save some wear and tear on All-American ace Teagan Kavan, who pitched almost every inning in the SEC Tournament.
Even he is aware the ceiling for Wells is rising with every time she enters the circle. And she’s always wanting to learn.
“She’s always taking notes,” White said. “She says she’s got dibs on my notebook when I retire.”
But if White keeps landing pitchers like Kavan and Wells, any retirement plans are a long way off.