No. 1 Texas Softball Defeats Texas Tech in Nine Innings Thriller

AUSTIN -- Unlike the earlier game, which ended in a five inning win over unranked Maryland. Texas had to leave blood, sweat and tears on the field against No. 10/8 Texas Tech.

It took the Longhorns nine innings to get past their in-state rivals, including some pretty familiar faces.

As expected, it took the Longhorns more time to get the ball running against the top-10 ranked Red Raiders. The teams went into the fourth inning scoreless, despite having players in scoring positions. Sophomore outfielder Logan Hallemen finally put a score on the board in the top of the fourth after freshman catcher Anya German singled to left center.

A lot of it can be credited to the work of both pitchers.

Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan (17) celebrates after an inning during a Women's College World Series semifinal softball game between the Stanford Cardinal and the Texas Longhorns at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 3, 2024. Texas won 1-0. | Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman / USA TODAY NETWORK

In the pitching duel, it looked like a deja-vu from Texas' Women's College World Series semifinal match against Stanford. Now-Texas Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady transferred to to Tech in the offseason after earning the title of USA Softball Player of the Year. Canady fell to a freshman Teagan Kavan in the pitcher's duel.

Less than a year later, the story repeated itself. Kavan recorded 18 strikeouts against Canady's new team, while Canady had 11 against the Longhorns. The Texas sophomore won 3-0 to Canady's 3-2.

Texas finally got through Canady in the bottom of the fifth inning as senior utility Mia Scott doubled down the left field to allow redshirt junior outfielder Ashton Maloney to get the team's first score.

All equal going to the sixth. 1-1.

Neither team could get past the third base. Not in the seventh quarter. Not in the eighth. But at the bottom of the ninth, Victoria Hunter singled to first base, allowing Joley Mitchell to put the Horns up 2-1.

Game over.

No. 1 Texas has yet to drop a game this season, with this being by far the closest victory. But Tech still has a change to get back as the team's face each other again on Sunday, concluding the Bevo Classic tournament. Up next for Texas is UMass and a rematch against Maryland on Saturday for the second day of the event.

Join the Community:

Subscribe to our YouTube Page HERE

You can follow us for future coverage by subscribing to our newsletter here. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @LonghornsCountryOnSI & follow us on Twitter at @LonghornsSI

Other Texas Longhorns News:

MORE: Texas Longhorns Dominate Latest Mock Draft

MORE: Chris Del Conte Announces Change to Texas Longhorns 2025 Football Schedule

MORE: Texas Longhorns New QB 'Beyond Blessed' With Commitment

MORE: Two Texas Longhorns Named to PFF All-Transfer Portal Roster

MORE: Texas AD Chris Del Conte on SMU Rumors: '1000 Percent False'