AUSTIN (KXAN) — With the national championship on the line Friday, the Texas Longhorns didn’t want to play another 1-run game.
The Longhorns exploded to claim their first NCAA softball title in grand fashion, 10-4, over the Texas Tech Red Raiders to win Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series finals at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Texas scored five runs in the first inning, sending Red Raiders ace pitcher NiJaree Canady to the bench after the frame, and then Mia Scott put an exclamation point with a grand slam in the fourth inning off of Chloe Riassetto. Leighann Goode crushed a 3-run homer in the first inning to help fuel the early onslaught.
Until her early exit, Canady had thrown every pitch for the Red Raiders since the super regional round against Florida State. Her agent announced before the game that she had signed another Name, Image and Likeness deal with the school for $1.2 million, according to the ESPN broadcast.
Teagan Kavan went the distance for the Longhorns, scattering eight hits with three strikeouts and no walks in 111 pitches.
Texas led 10-0 after four innings, but three errors let the Red Raiders get on the board. All of Texas Tech’s runs were unearned due to the miscues by the Longhorns.
Kayden Henry had three hits while Reese Atwood, Katie Stewart and Scott all had two for the Longhorns. Stewart drove in two runs with a double and a single. Texas out-hit the Red Raiders 12-8.
Texas finally broke through in its third WCWS finals in four seasons. The Longhorns lost their previous two championship series in 2022 and 2024 to the Oklahoma Sooners. It was the Longhorns’ eighth appearance in the WCWS.
It’s the second national championship for the entire Texas athletic program this school year, joining the men’s swim team.
This will be updated with postgame quotes and reaction from players and coaches
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