Texas squeaks by Texas A&M, heads back to Women’s College World Series
The Austin Super Regional came down to the final pitch. And Teagan Kavan froze Amari Harper with it to close out a 6-5 Texas win over Texas A&M.
Kavan picked up her fourth save of the season but it sure wasn’t easy. Mike White turned to his star freshman in the sixth and it didn’t start off great by hitting Mya Perez to load the bases. Kavan protected what was a one-run lead at the time by striking out Allie Enright and Aiyana Coleman on six pitches.
🗣️ SHE GOT HER 🔥 KAVAN WITH A CAPITAL K #RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ESPN2 / @TexasSoftball pic.twitter.com/TPqN0nCaSl
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 27, 2024
She ran into trouble in the seventh. Koko Wooley and Trinity Cannon reached to put two on for Julia Cottrill. The Texas A&M catcher lifted a three-run home run to pull back within one in the seventh after the Longhorns’ three-run sixth.
HERE COME THE AGGIES#RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ESPN2 / @AggieSoftball pic.twitter.com/1ApNtv54Pl
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 27, 2024
Kavan recorded the second out but the next two batters reached to put the game-tying and go-ahead run on base for Harper. Ultimately, Kavan won the battle and Texas won the Super Regional.
The true star of the night was Texas shortstop Vivi Martinez. The Aggies didn’t take their chances with potential Player of the Year Reese Atwood, Martinez delivered instead.
Maybe her first-inning error that led to Texas A&M’s first run fueled her but Martinez had a great night at the plate. Her first double gave Texas the lead that the Longhorns never squandered.
Martinez added another double to her three-hit night but her RBI triple in the sixth proved to be the difference. The triple capped off a three-run frame for the Longhorns, which they needed in the end.
Vivi Martinez is ON FIRE 🔥#RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ESPN2 / @TexasSoftball pic.twitter.com/sZeTZjjO61
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 27, 2024
Texas A&M had recorded the second out of the frame at second before Martinez stepped up to the plate. Wooley made the questionable decision to try to back pick the runner at third. The ball was skipped by Kennedy Powell and allowed Leighann Goode to score and extend the inning.
that way to home plate 🤘#HookEm | 📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/cOyTJBiYhT
— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) May 27, 2024
Mia Scott hit another home run, her eight since April 12.
Texas will have a rematch against either Stanford or LSU to start its Women’s College World Series on Thursday.
