The Women’s College World Series saw an action-packed Saturday with two competitive matchups that led to notable upsets, as Texas and Texas Tech emerged victorious against top contenders Oklahoma and UCLA, respectively.
Texas Upsets Oklahoma 4-2
The path to a fifth consecutive NCAA softball championship became significantly more challenging for No. 2-seeded Oklahoma, which was taken down by No. 6 Texas with a score of 4-2. This victory marked Texas’s first win over Oklahoma in the state of Oklahoma since 2011 and their inaugural win against the Sooners in the Women’s College World Series.
Texas opened the scoring, with the first run coming from sophomore outfielder Kayden Henry, who executed a daring second-to-home steal. In the second inning, Oklahoma leveled the score, capitalizing on a defensive error from Texas.
However, the Longhorns regained the lead in the fifth inning when Henry hit a solo home run, making it a 3-2 game. This was followed by another solo shot from first baseman Joley Mitchell in the sixth inning, extending Texas’s lead. Longhorns ace Teagan Kavan sealed the win with two strikeouts in the final inning, completing the game with a total of eight strikeouts.
Texas Tech Defeats UCLA 3-1
No. 12 Texas Tech claimed a defensive victory against No. 9 UCLA, winning 3-1 in a match that featured strong pitching and critical late-game plays. The Red Raiders broke a scoreless stalemate in the fifth inning with a surprise play: a steal of home plate by pinch runner Makayla Garcia.
UCLA quickly responded, with shortstop Kaniya Bragg connecting for a solo homer in the same inning. Nevertheless, Texas Tech regained the lead in the sixth with another solo home run, this time off the bat of shortstop Hailey Toney. The Red Raiders sealed their victory by adding one more run in the seventh inning.
Texas Tech’s Nijaree Canady was instrumental in the win, striking out seven batters over seven innings, including one in the final frame to clinch the match.
As a result of these upsets, both Oklahoma and UCLA now find themselves in a precarious position, facing win-or-go-home elimination games against Tennessee and Oregon, respectively. Meanwhile, Texas and Texas Tech will advance to face the winners in the upcoming rounds, maintaining their momentum in the tournament.
