Nothing seemed to be going Texas softball’s way in Saturday night’s Game 2 of their super regional.
Arizona State’s Brooklyn Ulrich’s RBI double to left field bounced off the top of Kaiah Altmeyer’s glove for the Sun Devils to take an early 1-0 lead in the second inning. In the top of the third, a fly ball from Arizona State’s Kaylee Pond sailed over the head of right fielder Ashton Maloney, who misjudged her leadoff double.
The Longhorns’ troubles only continued in the third when a wild pitch from Teagan Kavan (23-5, 2.61 ERA) almost scored another run. Sun Devils catcher Samantha Swan’s RBI single gave Arizona State a 2-0 lead a few pitches later.
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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
Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) catches the ball at the circle during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Mike White meets Arizona State head coach Megan Bartlett ahead of the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) slides home for a score during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns designated player Hannah Wells (13) celebrates a score by infielder Katie Stewart (20) during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Kayden Henry (21) steps up to bat during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Ashton Maloney (7) stands in the outfield during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) catches a ball for an out during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) steps up to bat during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) hits a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) throws a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) steps to bat during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) steps up to pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) hands the ball off to pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez (77) during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Viviana Martinez (23) swings at a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) leaves the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) talks to pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez (77) during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) reacts to a strikeout during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) celebrates a hit for a double during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Javcie Nichols (24) is tagged out at first during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez (77) throws a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Leighann Goode (43) grabs a ground ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) celebrates a hit for a double during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Viviana Martinez (23) is hit by a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Kaiah Altmeyer (44) catches a fly ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Viviana Martinez (23) celebrates after getting hit by a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Javcie Nichols (24) watches a fly ball during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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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.
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Texas Longhorns designated player Victoria Hunter (12) runs home for a score during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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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.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez (77) throws a pitch during the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez (77) celebrates a catch at first for an out by infielder Katie Stewart (20) 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
Texas Longhorns catcher Reese Atwood (14) celebrates a catch at first for an out by infielder Katie Stewart (20) 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
Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) catches the ball at first for a final out in the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) celebrates a catch at first for a final out in the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Katie Stewart (20) celebrates a catch at first for a final out in the NCAA Softball Championship Super Regional against Arizona State at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Austin.
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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.
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But Texas’ defense and bats punched back to force a crucial Game 3 after a 4-3 win Saturday night at McCombs Field. Capped off with a two-run home run from pinch hitter Victoria Hunter, the Longhorns are one win away from a return trip to Oklahoma City after a night-and-day performance that saw contributions from everyone. After Texas didn’t look like its top form in Friday night’s loss, it returned in Game 2.
“You just never know what’s going to happen in these situations,” head coach Mike White said.
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Back to the drawing board
In Game 1, the Longhorns only had four hits and couldn’t cross home plate after Hannah Wells’ solo home run in the fourth inning. Texas improved for seven hits Saturday and the bottom of the order helped lead the comeback party after being contained the night before by ASU ace Kenzie Brown.
Down 2-0, Altmeyer reached first on a fielding error in the fifth and scored on an RBI double from Katie Stewart. Reese Atwood followed it up with a two-run single up the middle as the Longhorns took the lead.
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“Just getting that first runner on base is everything,” Stewart said. “I can be up there, be free to be able to do my job and get my best swings off … To see their energy on first base really just brings it back to me in the box.”
Texas Longhorns outfielder Kaiah Altmeyer (44) catches a fly ball 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
Arizona State’s Swan, who played at nearby Georgetown, could have sucked the momentum out of McCombs, but Texas pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez (9-3, 2.16 ERA) was in control. The senior finished with six strikeouts through five innings after relieving Kavan in the third.
“I thought about it last night that no matter what my role was going to be this game, whether starting or relieved, to leave it all out there,” Gutierrez said.
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But the Longhorns weren’t done because Maloney’s single was sandwiched between two outs from her teammates. Her energized “Let’s go!” standing on first gave way to Hunter’s homer.
Texas clawed and stomped its way back because the Longhorns figured out how to hit against Brown (who came in for relief in the fifth inning) and the Longhorns were more patient at the plate, something that White said was an issue Friday.
“You knew Brown was in the bullpen … but we had moved the hard way to go against their ace, and we were able to kind of string some hits together,” White said.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez (77) celebrates a third out 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
Even with the mistakes in the outfield and battles at the plate, Texas’ experience showed in the final outs when Gutierrez retired six straight Sun Devils.
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“I think we’ve learned that over time that it’s going to happen, and I’m just proud of our team and the maturity showed in those moments,” White said.
But fighting back to win in a super regional isn’t unfamiliar for Texas.
Last year, the Longhorns lost the first game of the 2025 super regional to Clemson and won the second 7-5 in extra innings. The Longhorns had help from all parts of the order, but nine hole hitter Kaydee Bennet and leadoff Maloney swung for RBIs that helped even the series.
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Now, with all parts of the lineup clicking and doing its part, Texas again has to win a Game 3 for a third straight appearance in the Women’s College World Series.
Texas will play Arizona State for spot in Oklahoma City at 3:30 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.