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Texas sends Oklahoma to the loser's bracket of WCWS

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

BradyVernon

Screenshot 2025-05-31 at 4.26.20 PM
Crash Kamon/Softball America

Much had been made of Oklahoma’s recent dominance over Texas, but on Saturday, it was the Longhorns’ day. Kayden Henry and Joley Mitchell’s fifth- and sixth-inning solo home runs, backed by an excellent performance by Teagan Kavan, propelled Texas to a 4-2 win over Oklahoma.

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

The Longhorns just missed a few pitches from Sam Landry. However, the third time through the order, Texas finally put a few over the wall.

“I think the big thing today was we were still communicating with each other,” Mitchell said. “We’ve talked about the last couple of weeks that’s been the big thing for us. I trust every person out there. I know we trust each other. We were communicating when we came back in the dugout.

“When things went bad, maybe we had a moment but then we came back together. Today was just about a playing a ball game. I think we did a great job focusing on us. We weren’t focused on the crowd or what Oklahoma was doing. We were focusing on what Texas softball was doing. We went out there and played ball.”

Texas had an early plan to challenge Oklahoma catcher Isabela Emerling. Henry stole second quite easily after her single in the first. The Longhorns then had first and third following Mia Scott’s bloop single that just stayed fair. Reese Atwood faked a bunt to help the double steal attempt, which worked to perfection and allowed Henry to score. The errant throw home also put Scott on third. Atwood then lifted a ball to the warning track to bring in Scott and increase the lead to two.

Oklahoma, as it typically does, answered right back. Although Texas did itself no favors by issuing a leadoff walk and committing an error to put two on without an out. Abby Dayton found grass in center field for an RBI single. Kasidi Pickering beat out a would-be double-play ball and the fielder’s choice tied the game for the Sooners.

Both Kavan and Landry both really locked in after the early noise. The Texas staff and Kavan, who struggled against Oklahoma in the regular season, had a great plan and executed it well. Kavan hit her spots throughout the game, doing a great job mixing eye levels with her rise and drop while using her changeup for a few strikeouts.

In the sixth, Cydney Sanders led off with a single. Pinch runner Tia Milloy, who represented the tying run, got to third base with one out after a grounder and a wild pitch. Kavan came back to strike out pinch-hitter Maya Bland and finally won a nine-pitch at-bat against Abigale Dayton to strand Milloy. Kavan went the distance, allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out eight.

 “I think, honestly, nothing necessarily changed,” Kavan said. “Obviously, you just have to mix with them. And I think it was just the execution of pitches. I think that could have been better earlier in the season. I’m glad to execute it here and that it worked in our favor today. But just one pitch at a time.”

Kavan, unfortunately, lost her grandmother earlier on Saturday morning, but the sophomore wanted the ball and nothing fazed her throughout the contest.

“It’s been in her demeanor right from the start. She’s been very calm, very level-headed. Sort of sometimes you want to prod her a little bit to get a little more out of her, but that’s what makes her the great competitor she is,” Texas head coach Mike White said. “Having her grandmother die and being able to come out, be able to pitch a great game, and just have stuff happen early in the game, and then at the end, stuff happens. She just held it all together, like a true warrior.”

“When Teagan told us this morning, it was honestly my worst nightmare,” Mitchell said.” I was scared that’s what it was when she texted us this morning. But she told us, the first thing she said she’s good and she’s ready to go today. So Teagan Kavan is my hero today.”

Landry didn’t have her best stuff, but as she did against Tennessee, she continued to limit the damage with help from her defense. Oklahoma turned two more double plays to help their ace.

Texas moves into the driver’s seat and will await the winner of Game 9 (Tennessee vs. Texas Tech/UCLA) on Monday at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN. Oklahoma flips to the other side of the bracket and faces Oregon on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

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