OKLAHOMA CITY — At this point, you can’t ever doubt Texas softball and pitcher Teagan Kavan at the Women’s College World Series.
Kavan threw her ninth career complete-game win at the WCWS in Monday’s 4-0 second-game win over Tennessee to clinch a third straight berth in the WCWS championship series. In the process, Kavan broke Cat Osterman’s school record with her fifth WCWS complete-game shutout.
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“Every now and then, you’re lucky to pick up a pitcher that can do that for you.,” Texas coach Mike White said. “Teagan’s been able to do that. It’s tough when you look at her numbers. She should be first-team All-American. Her numbers don’t show that. But to play against the top teams and get big outs in key situations warrants it, but it’s just one of those things.”
Texas Longhorns utility Reese Atwood (14) slides back to first base in the fourth inning as the Texas Longhorns play the Oklahoma Sooners, the first of a three-game series, on Friday, April 10, 2026 at Red and Charline McCombs Field in Austin.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Kavan’s complete game at Devon Park followed a stellar pitching performance in Monday’s first game of the doubleheader by Citlaly Gutierrez, who allowed just two runs in 6⅔ innings. Texas needed to win both games to advance, and Kavan and Gutierrez combined to hold Tennessee to seven hits and two runs across 14 total innings.
Texas slugger Katie Stewart extended her single-season school record with her 30th home run of the season, Kayden Henry stole home, and Reese Atwood and Vivi Martinez each added RBIs as Texas managed seven hits against Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens.
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In the two games Monday, Texas pounded out 20 hits and nine runs against a Tennessee pitching staff that entered the game with a national-low 2.35 ERA. The Longhorns also fended off four straight elimination games after dropping their WCWS opener Thursday to Tennessee, 6-3.
“It is inside the DNA of our team,” Atwood said. “It’s what Coach White has put in us all season, just fighting back from losses. When we came out of the losers’ bracket after the first game, we fought so hard. We’ve had so many key players step up in different places, different roles, and it’s Texas fight. It’s what we do, and we’re going to continue to do going into the championship.”
The best-of-three championship series begins Wednesday against either Texas Tech or Alabama.
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RELATED: How Texas used its day off at the WCWS
Read below for a replay and highlights from the Texas Longhorns’ win over Tennessee at the Women’s College World Series.
Teagan Kavan does it again at the WCWS, throwing her ninth career complete-game win in Oklahoma City and breaking Cat Osterman’s school record with her fifth WCWS complete-game shutout. Up next? Either Texas Tech or Alabama in the best-of-three championship series that starts Wednesday.
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Leighann Goode walks and Hannah Wells gets the Longhorns’ seventh hit, but Texas can’t add to its lead. But the Horns are three outs from returning to the championship series and trying to defend their national championship.
Texas first baseman Katie Stewart takes a ball to the face after a nasty bounce off the bag, and she’s going to the locker room with medical staff. There’s some blood coming out of the mouth. Hannah Wells, the DP, takes over at first. Meanwhile, Texas starter Teagan Kavan is up to nine strikeouts without a walk, and she’s only allowed two hits.
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Make it 30 for Katie Stewart, who keeps adding to her single-season school record for home runs. She launches a solo shot into the left-field bleachers and the Longhorns stay on track for a third consecutive appearance in the WCWS championship series.
Gabby Leach drops in a one-out bloop single into shallow center for the Vols’ second hit, but that’s all as Texas starter Teagan Kavan continues to handcuff the Tennessee lineup.
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Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens gets back on track by retiring the side in order. But the Vols need to figure out how to solve Texas starter Teagan Kavan if they want to advance to their first WCWS championship series since 2007.
Texas ace Teagan Kavan retires 11 straight Tennessee batters before Emma Clarke taps a single up the middle for the Vols’ first hit. There’s not a better big-game pitcher in the country than Kavan, and she’s again proving why in a fourth consecutive must-win game for the Longhorns.
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It’s a big Texas rally. Vivi Martinez continues her big WCWS by hacking an RBI single over Tennessee 3B Ella Dodge that scores Jaycie Nichols, and Kayden Henry uses some heads-up base-running – and plenty of speed – to steal home after Martinez beats a throw to second on a steal attempt. Reece Atwood then doubles in Martinez, and the Longhorns have seized control of this game with three runs and five hits in the frame.
Teagan Kavan is up to five strikeouts after fanning the side, and the Texas starter is perfect through three innings.
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Hannah Wells becomes the first base-runner of the game after the Texas freshman draws a two-out walk from Tennessee starter Karlyn Pickens, and Kaiah Altmeyer follows with another walk. Those free passes prompt a little powwow at the circle, but Pickens gets Maloney to ground out for the third out.
With temperatures soaring near 100 degrees in OKC, pitch counts could be important. Texas starter Teagan Kavan is at 26 after retiring the first six batters that she’s faced.
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Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens comes out throwing heat. She fans the side, including Kayden Henry, Katie Stewart and Vivi Martinez. I don’t know this without a lot of research, but I’m guessing that’s the first time this season that the top of the Texas lineup goes down in order via strikeout.
Teagan Kavan makes quick work of the Tennessee lineup with two groundouts and a strikeout.
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Texas starter Teagan Kavan deals a strike to Sophia Knight, and we’re off in Game 2 of a WCWS semifinal. Winner advances to the championship series, and Texas is the designated home team.
Two of the best pitchers in college softball meet for a spot in the WCWS championship series. Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens (15-7, 1.58 ERA, 188 strikeouts in 142 innings) gave up four hits and three runs in three innings of relief work in Tennessee’s 6-3 win over Texas in the WCWS opener on Thursday. Texas’s Teagan Kavan (27-6, 2.40 ERA, 239 strikeouts in 212.2 innings) allowed three hits and three runs in three innings before giving way to Citlaly Gutierrez in that first game.
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SpotPos# PlayerBatsTodayAvg1cf21 Kayden HenryL0-0.40321b20 Katie StewartR0-0.4313ss23 Viviana MartinezL0-0.3834c14 Reese AtwoodR0-0.33052b43 Leighann GoodeR0-0.3386dp13 Hannah WellsR0-0.2867lf44 Kaiah AltmeyerL0-0.3048rf7 Ashton MaloneyL0-0.29693b24 Jaycie NicholsR0-0.32410p17 Teagan KavanR0-0-SpotPos# PlayerBatsTodayAvg1cf2 Sophia KnightL0-0.40123b25 Ella DodgeL0-0.29032b13 Emma ClarkeR0-0.2734dp10 Alannah LeachL0-0.3025c22 Elsa MorrisonR0-0.2656rf55 Gabby LeachL0-0.28971b98 Makenzie ButtR0-0.2918ss12 Bella FawR0-0.2069lf27 Taelyn HolleyL0-0.29110p23 Karlyn PickensR0-0-
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Who: No. 2 Texas Longhorns (3-1) vs Tennessee Volunteers (2-1)
What: Women’s College World Series Game 10
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Where: Devon Park in Oklahoma City
The 2026 season ends for the loser of this game. The winner will advance to the national championship series and play the winner of Alabama vs Texas Tech.
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