The Texas Longhorns captured their first-ever NCAA softball championship with a commanding 10-4 victory over Texas Tech in Game of the Women’s College World Series finals in Oklahoma City. The decisive showdown saw Texas explode for five runs in the opening inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Leighann Goode, putting early pressure on Red Raiders ace NiJaree Canady, who was pulled after recording just one out.
Texas continued their offensive onslaught in the fourth inning when Mia Scott launched a grand slam, extending the lead to 10-0 and putting the run-rule in play Texas Tech avoided an early finish by rallying for three runs in the fifth and adding another in the seventh, but the deficit proved insurmountable.
Freshman pitcher Teagan Kavan delivered another clutch performance for the Longhorns, holding Texas Tech to four runs over seven innings and securing her second win of the championship series Reese Atwood and Katie Stewart also contributed with key hits and RBIs, while Texas’ defense held firm in the late innings.
The win marks Texas’ eighth Women’s College World Series appearance and their first national title in program history, ending the SEC’s recent dominance in college softball The game was played over the standard seven innings, with Texas Tech narrowly avoiding the run-rule after their fifth-inning comeback attempt.
For fans who missed the action, extended highlights of the championship game are available on YouTube..
