June 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nWhile Texas Tech fought back to force a Game 3 in the 2025 iteration of this matchup, the Longhorns leaned on their \u201cTexas fight\u201d this time around to complete the two-game sweep, silencing one of the most powerful (and expensive) lineups in all of college softball.<\/p>\n
After a dominant performance by Teagan Kavan in Game 1, coach Mike White gave senior Citlaly Gutierrez the nod to start on Thursday night. Gutierrez allowed one run on four hits, finishing her final season in the burnt orange not only with another trophy, but with one of the best stretches of her career in the circle after also shutting down Tennessee in the semifinals on Monday to save Texas\u2019 season.<\/p>\n
For all of the talk that surrounded Gerry Glasco\u2019s prolific offense, filled to the brim with transfers and the seemingly endless ability to fight back, it was Texas\u2019 consistent, loyal lineup of homegrown recruits that came out victorious in the end.<\/p>\n
With slugger Katie Stewart \u2014 who hit a home run in four straight games before Thursday night \u2014 silenced at the hands of Canady, the Longhorns implemented a pass-the-bat mentality in what was a crucial fifth-inning performance. The spark that lit the flame? Senior Arizona transfer Kaiah Altmeyer, who has been on fire while in Oklahoma City after a season in which she split time with fellow senior Kaydee Bennett.<\/p>\n
While the two runs in the fifth were all the Longhorns would need, they didn\u2019t stop there. Kayden Henry launched a solo home run, and pinch runner Alisa Sneed came around to score on a sinking liner in the top of the seventh, adding another insurance run.<\/p>\n
But that doesn\u2019t mean this victory didn\u2019t come without a bit of a scare. Similar to Game 1, Texas Tech grabbed the first lead of the game at the hands (and this time, the feet) of the speedy Mihyia Davis. Then, in a surprising pitching change, White brought in Hannah Wells in the fourth, her first appearance since Texas\u2019 NCAA Tournament opener against Wagner and her first-ever time in the circle on the WCWS stage.<\/p>\n
It almost came back to bite White, as Wells loaded the bases with Red Raiders, giving them the prime opportunity to strike. Then Gutierrez re-entered and slammed the door. That set the stage for Kavan to enter in the sixth in relief, a role in which she has thrived in addition to her continued excellence as a starter.<\/p>\n
Kavan, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 tournament, continued her dominance on the biggest stage of the sport. In her career at the WCWS, the junior ace has a 12-3 record and now stands with Longhorns legend Cat Osterman among the program\u2019s greats. With her shutout against Tennessee in the semifinal victory, Kavan surpassed Osterman with career shutouts at the WCWS with her fifth.<\/p>\n
Kavan, with the help of Gutierrez, now firmly sits in the royal court of Texas softball history, and Texas has now officially been crowned the new queens of college softball.<\/p>\n