Texas women's softball coach Mike White discussed switching pitchers after hot start vs. Seton Hall

The Texas women’s softball team handled the Seton Hall Pirates in the opening round of this year’s NCAA Tournament. The Longhorns currently sit at No. 13 in the country, and they looked like it on Friday evening of the Austin Regional. Texas dominated Seton Hall 8-0, and the contest was wrapped up in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Earlier in the game, Texas softball head coach Mike White spoke about wanting to keep his pitchers fresh for the weekend. That’s why he surprisingly decided to change pitchers after the fourth inning, even though Mac Morgan had a no-hitter going. White decided to make the switch to Estelle Czech to finish off the game.

The broadcast crew on the Longhorn Network asked him about the switch. “Well, I’m hoping it pays off, but you know sometimes you gotta think ahead. It’s hot out here and we wanna make sure everyone’s ready to go for the rest of the weekend,” White said.

White’s switch of pitchers ended up making Texas softball history. It was the first combined no-hitter in Longhorn postseason history. Mac Morgan allowed zero hits in four innings. Then Estelle Czech finished the game off, as the Longhorns prevailed 8-0 in five innings.

Before joining Texas, Czech played for the N.C. State Wolfpack

During her only season at N.C. State, Czech racked up four victories with a 3.14 ERA in 22 appearances. She played 73.2 innings and struck out 39 batters. She helped guide N.C. State to the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.

As a high school recruit, Czech was rated as a top 50 prospect by Extra Inning. She was also ranked as the No. 22 overall pitcher. Czech went 16-4 as a junior, pitching a 1.60 ERA and 232 strikeouts. As a batter, she hit .432 with seven home runs.

With the win on Friday evening, Texas will advance to the Super Regionals. In the regular season, the Longhorns finished with a 43-13-1 overall record, including 11-7 in the Big 12. Texas also had an impressive 29-5 record at home. Reese Atwood led the team in home runs with 11. Viviana Martinez led the team in RBIs with 48. One of their biggest wins of the season came against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Longhorns won that series, 3-0. They won Game 1, 1-0, Game 2, 3-2, and Game 3, 5-2.

Last season, Texas finished as the runner-up in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, falling to the Oklahoma Sooners in the finals of the Women’s College World Series.