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Texas Softball Smashes 3 Homers, Shuts Out Florida in WCWS Opener

Nicole Reitz|
Texas infielder Joley Mitchell (9) celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning of a Women's College World Series softball game between the Texas Longhorns and the Florida Gators at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Thursday, May 29, 2025.
Texas infielder Joley Mitchell (9) celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning of a Women's College World Series softball game between the Texas Longhorns and the Florida Gators at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Thursday, May 29, 2025. | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Teagan Kavan and the Texas Longhorns completely turned around from their Super Regionals appearance against Clemson and put up quite the fight against the Florida Gators to take a 3-0 victory in the opening game of the Women’s College World Series on Thursday.

With Kegan Rothrock in the circle for Florida going head-to-head with Kavan, it was inevitable that a pitcher’s duel would commence, but the Longhorns were able to break through. 

In the second inning, Joley Mitchell took Rothrock’s screwball over the left field wall for a solo shot. From there, the bats were silent on both ends until Mitchell stole the show once again in the fifth, this time with a solo homer to right field. 

Her two home runs made her the first player in program history with a multi-home run game in the WCWS. 

Katie Stewart followed up immediately with a solo shot of her own, almost in the same spot as Mitchell, and Rothrock was pulled from the game. 

Rothrock finished her outing with four strikeouts, including the Longhorns’ best bat, Reese Atwood, who struck out twice, once looking. Florida went through two more pitchers before ending the game with Katelynn Oxley, who held the Longhorns from scoring again. 

Kavan finished the complete game shutout with one strikeout and two walks. 

Florida will play on Friday against the loser of the Oklahoma and Tennessee game at 7 p.m. ET

More News: Joley Mitchell Makes WCWS History for Texas Softball

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More News: Ole Miss Softball Coach Jamie Trachsel Etches Her Name in the WCWS Record Books

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Nicole Reitz
NICOLE REITZ

Nicole Reitz graduated from Indiana University Indianapolis with a degree in sports journalism in 2022 and has been writing about softball and baseball since 2018 .Her work has been published in various publications like Softball America, the Indianapolis Star, and SoxOn35th.

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