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Mitchell, Kavan lift Texas to opening WCWS win over Florida

Screenshot 2024-07-31 at 7.46.34 PMby:Brady Vernon•05/29/25•

BradyVernon

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Crash Kamon/Softball America

The battle between Texas and Florida had a much different tune than the team’s matchup in last season’s Women’s College World Series. Longhorn starter Teagan Kavan and Gator ace Keagan Rothrock went pitch for pitch for most of the game, but ultimately Kavan outdueled her fellow All-American, leading Texas to a 3-0 win.

In a contest filled with soft contact from the batters, Joley Mitchell’s uppercut swing started the scoring. The Texas senior smashed a solo shot off Rothrock, who left a 2-2 pitch too far over the plate.

Texas had another scoring chance in the fifth. Ashton Maloney reached on an error and Mia Scott hit a soft liner into left field to bring up Reese Atwood with a two-out RBI opportunity. However, Rothrock struck out Atwood on an inside pitch to end the threat and keep the Gators within one.

That cushion only lasted so long. Mitchell hit another shot off Rothrock, just out of the reach of the leaping Kendra Falby, who nearly brought it back in. There was less doubt the next batter as Katie Stewart hit an opposite-field rocket.

“She came up to me after we both hit one, my second one and her first, and she said, So what’s that now? And it didn’t cross my mind,” Mitchell said about her light conversation with Stewart about who had more home runs. “I said, What did you have before? She said 15. I said, So now you have 16 and so I do. It’s nice to have those fun things going on behind the scenes with all the grit that we’re going through.”

Kavan’s outing was similar to Rockrock with a few Ks, but forcing a ton of mishits from Florida’s offense. Florida didn’t collect its first hit until the fourth when Korbe Otis hit a low linedrive that knicked off Mitchell’s glove and rolled into the outfield. Kavan didn’t waver despite falling behind 3-0 to the next batter, Ava Brown. Kavan worked the account full before inducing an inning-ending flyout.

Teagan Kavan throws a pitch at WCWC (Crash Kamon/Softball America)

Kavan allowed her second hit of the game to Taylor Shumaker, who ran out a slow dribbler. A groundball inning-ending double play quickly erased Shumaker. Kavan went the distance, throwing a complete game shutout in less than 100 pitches. She only struck out one batter while inducing 12 groundouts and seven flyouts.

“I think just the ability to mix the pitches up now,” said Texas head coach Mike White about Kavan’s efficiency. “Last year she was more one-dimensional, like a lot of more rise balls. Now that the hitters know, she can go with one of three pitches. And she was pretty much in control of it today. A couple of walks, but for the most part, she was throwing the ball, being aggressive.”

Texas will await the winner of the Oklahoma-Tennessee matchup for a Saturday game. Florida takes on the loser of Game Two in an elimination game on Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

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