Texas leads WCWS series
Texas Longhorns Win WCWS Opener 7-3 Against Texas Tech, Led by Kavan and Stewart
Texas opened the Women's College World Series championship series with a dominant 7-3 win over Texas Tech on Wednesday night at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. Teagan Kavan threw a complete-game three-hitter, and Katie Stewart blasted her fourth home run in four straight games — a new WCWS record — as the No. 2 seed Longhorns moved one win away from back-to-back national titles, according to Associated Press.
Texas raced out to a 5-1 lead after the first inning and never looked back. The Longhorns can clinch their second consecutive championship with a win in Game 2, scheduled for Thursday at 7:00 PM CT, according to Field Level Media.
Texas Explodes for Five Runs in First Inning
Texas Tech grabbed the early edge when outfielder Mihyia Davis crushed a solo home run to left field in the top of the first. It was Davis's 10th homer and 101st hit of the season, per Field Level Media. But Texas answered immediately and hard.
Kayden Henry led off with a bunt single. Stewart then launched a two-run shot to left-center — her 31st of the season. Kaiah Altmeyer added an RBI infield single, and Ashton Maloney capped the inning with a two-run triple. Just like that, Texas led 5-1. Viviana Martinez later added a run in the fourth and a sacrifice fly in the sixth to push the final score to 7-3, according to Houston Chronicle.
Kavan's Complete-Game Gem Shuts Down Red Raiders
Kavan was in control from start to finish. She went the full seven innings, allowing just three hits and three runs while striking out six. Texas Tech's Mia Williams hit a two-run homer in the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-3, but Kavan closed the door. She retired the final three batters to end the game at 9:43 PM CT, per Field Level Media.
"There's power throughout their lineup," Kavan said. "I was just trying to keep them off balance." Coach Mike White praised Stewart's performance too, saying "she's strong as an ox" and is "really taking it onto herself to shoulder the load," according to Houston Chronicle.
Stewart Sets WCWS Record With Fourth Straight Homer
Stewart's first-inning blast was her seventh career WCWS home run and made her the first player ever to homer in four consecutive Women's College World Series games, per Associated Press. She now has 31 homers on the season. "I saw my pitch and made sure not to miss it," she said after the game.
Texas Tech started pitcher Kaitlyn Terry instead of ace NiJaree Canady. Terry lasted just 1.1 innings, facing six batters in the first before being pulled. Canady — who carries a reported $1 million annual NIL deal after transferring from Stanford — came in relief and is expected to start Game 2, according to CBS Sports.
Texas One Win From Rare Back-to-Back Dynasty
A Texas win Thursday would make the Longhorns the first program since Oklahoma — which won three straight titles from 2021 to 2023 — to claim consecutive national championships. Texas entered the finals as the No. 2 seed after going through the elimination bracket, beating No. 7 Tennessee twice on June 1, per CBS Sports.
This is also the first time the same two programs have met in back-to-back WCWS championship series since the format moved to best-of-three in 2005. Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco, whose roster includes 23 transfer portal players, leaned into the underdog role. "If softball needs me to be the villain, I'm all about it," he said. "This team was built for the postseason."
Sentiment
NeutralPublishers
26
Articles
26
Reach
26
