OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — The Texas Longhorns are once again the national softball champions after a late flurry sent them past Texas Tech 4-1 on Thursday night in Game 2 of the Women’s College World Series final.
The Red Raiders were seven outs away from forcing a winner-take-all Game 3 when a throwing error scored two runs in the fifth inning to give Texas a 2-1 lead.
The Longhorns then added two critical insurance runs in the seventh inning on a home run by Kayden Henry and an RBI single from Leighann Goode.
Texas Tech had its chances to take control early. The Red Raiders took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Lauren Allred singled home Mihyia Davis.
Tech then loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth inning but failed to capitalize. They never had a base runner again.
Citlaly Gutierrez from the small town of Stamford picked up the win in the pitcher’s circle for Texas with 4.1 innings of three-hit ball.
Teagan Kavan earned the save after no-hitting the Red Raiders over the final two innings with five strikeouts.
Texas outhit Tech 8-4 in the game.
Hannah Wells — who played just 95 miles up the road from San Angelo in Coahoma — had three hits in the championship series. She had a single and drew two walks Thursday.
It was the second consecutive year Lone Star State fans were treated to a final between the in-state rivals, but Texas came out on top each time.
The Longhorns had been knocking on the door after finishing as the runner-up in 2022 and 2024.
Tech had never been to the World Series before last year, and the Red Raiders now have back-to-back runner-up finishes. They also eliminated the nation’s No. 1-ranked team each season.
No. 11-ranked Tech finished this season with a record of 61-10. The Red Raiders will be losing All-American pitcher NiJaree Canady, who pitched all seven innings Thursday..
No. 2-ranked Texas ends this year with a record of 53-12 and dreams of winning a third straight national title next season.
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