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Texas sweeps Texas Tech in WCWS finals, wins second consecutive softball national championship

By Jeff Howe

· 4046 views

Texas avoided an if-necessary third game of the Women’s College World Series finals against Texas Tech, following up Wednesday’s 7-3 win over the Red Raiders with Thursday’s 4-1 victory to clinch the Longhorns’ second consecutive national championship.

Texas (53-12) joined Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma and UCLA as the fifth NCAA softball program to win back-to-back softball national titles with a two-game sweep of Texas Tech (61-10). Teagan Kavan, who was named WCWS Most Outstanding Player for the second year in a row, secured the final six outs of the game after Citlaly Gutierrez (4.1 innings) and Hannah Wells (0.2 innings) did their jobs in the circle to help the Longhorns overcome a one-run deficit.

Facing All-American pitcher NiJaree Canady and trailing, 1-0, Texas opened the fifth inning with back-to-back singles by Kaiah Altmeyer and Ashton Maloney. After Jaycie Nichols reached on a fielder’s choice and the Red Raiders intentionally walked Katie Stewart with the bases loaded, a Viviana Martinez ground ball to the left side of the infield turned into a two-run error, putting the Longhorns on top, 2-1.

On the heels of Kavan retiring Texas Tech in order in the bottom of the sixth, Kayden Henry led off the top of the seventh with an opposite-field home run, taking Canady deep to left. With one out and runners on first and second, right fielder Lauren Allred couldn’t come up with a diving catch of a sinking liner off the bat of Leighann Goode, resulting in an RBI single to put Texas up by three runs, 4-1.

Kavan retired each of the six Red Raiders she faced, recording back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.

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    Lifetime Longhorn

    MarkInAustin

    Supporters
    21 minutes ago, UTexas said:

    Impressive stat right here:

     

    How many final two inning sets did Kavan pitch in CWS games?  Or is this a two season total, all games?

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    • Lifetime Longhorn

    UTexas

    Supporters
    7 minutes ago, MarkInAustin said:

    How many final two inning sets did Kavan pitch in CWS games?  Or is this a two season total, all games?

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Not for sure. He got that stat from another tweet from someone else but I can't find the origianl one I saw.

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    • Lifetime Longhorn

    Tuco Ramirez

    Supporters
    22 minutes ago, HookemTexas said:

    Kavan is getting all the accolades and rightfully so, but I also have to give props to Citlaly Gutierrez.  I myself have been critical of her and didn't think she was a legit #2, but against Tennessee and Tech at the WCWS, she was lights out and gave the team a chance to win and that's all you can ask.  And she did it with a smile on her face.  Because of her outings, Kavan was able to get the needed rest to do what she does best.

    Totally agree. Citlaly went head to head against Canady and won in the deciding WCWS game. That’s no small feat. 

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    • Lifetime Longhorn

    UTexas

    Supporters
    15 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

    Same thread this time next year?

    Works for me. I'll be here.

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    • Lifetime Longhorn

    Ace Recruiter

    Supporters
    1 hour ago, HookemTexas said:

    I haven't heard anything that's extraordinary, she gets credit for being the highest paid player at the time.  Jordy Bahl Frahm likely took less money to go home to Nebraska and build that program (her home state) into a contender.  To me that's more worthy.  Karlyn Pickens was interviewed and said she was offered a ton more money (likely by Tech) but stayed at Tennessee because it means something to try to finish what you started.  Reese Atwood was contacted by Tech last year during the WCWS and said no thanks I'm staying at Texas.

    Teagan Kavan has interviewers pull in who she believes should be recognized that usually do not get the spotlight (Altemeier).

    Those types of actions have more impact imo.

    This. Kavan, Kennedy and all the pitchers mentioned here are a big part of the rise in popularity of the sport. Kennedy got paid the most and yes she is dominant, but so are all the pitchers mentioned in your post. Kennedy is getting presented as the Caitlin Clark of softball and that she is not. She is part of the reason, but she is not the tip of the spear in that regard.

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    • Junior

    WRNC

    Members
    1 hour ago, HookemTexas said:

    I haven't heard anything that's extraordinary, she gets credit for being the highest paid player at the time.  Jordy Bahl Frahm likely took less money to go home to Nebraska and build that program (her home state) into a contender.  To me that's more worthy.  Karlyn Pickens was interviewed and said she was offered a ton more money (likely by Tech) but stayed at Tennessee because it means something to try to finish what you started.  Reese Atwood was contacted by Tech last year during the WCWS and said no thanks I'm staying at Texas.

    Teagan Kavan has interviewers pull in who she believes should be recognized that usually do not get the spotlight (Altemeier).

    Those types of actions have more impact imo.

    Followers on Instagram

    Jordyn Frahm (Bahl): 145,000 followers 

    Karlyn Pickens: 139,000 followers 

    NiJaree Canady: 120,000 followers 

    Teagan Kavan: 59,000 followers

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    • Lifetime Longhorn

    Tuco Ramirez

    Supporters
    41 minutes ago, Ace Recruiter said:

    This. Kavan, Kennedy and all the pitchers mentioned here are a big part of the rise in popularity of the sport. Kennedy got paid the most and yes she is dominant, but so are all the pitchers mentioned in your post. Kennedy is getting presented as the Caitlin Clark of softball and that she is not. She is part of the reason, but she is not the tip of the spear in that regard.

    Canady can’t hold a candle to Kavan. We’ve seen this head to head. 

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