Teagan Kavan struck out five in the final two innings to back a strong start from Citlaly Gutierrez, and Kayden Henry homered to lead Texas to a 4-1 victory over Texas Tech on Thursday night at the Women’s College World Series for a second straight national championship.<\/p>\n
Kavan earned the most outstanding player award after becoming the first pitcher with two shutouts and two saves in one WCWS.<\/p>\n
Texas trailed 1-0 after four innings, but a bases-loaded throwing error by shortstop Hailey Toney allowed two unearned runs to score in the fifth for a 2-1 lead.<\/p>\n
Henry homered<\/a>\u00a0off Red Raiders ace NiJaree Canady \u2014 in her final collegiate game \u2014 to begin the seventh and Leighann Goode singled to drive in the final run.<\/p>\n Texas Tech jumped in front in the third on an RBI single by Lauren Allred.<\/p>\n Canady retired 11 in a row after Henry singled to begin the game before disaster struck in the fifth.<\/p>\n Kaiah Altmeyer and Ashton Maloney led off with singles before\u00a0Logan Halleman made a leaping catch<\/a>\u00a0in left field with one out to save at least one run. Canady walked slugger Katie Stewart to load the bases and appeared to escape the jam before Toney’s error.<\/p>\n