Field Level Media
05 Jun 2026, 08:25 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images)
Two unearned runs in the fifth inning sparked Texas to a 4-1 win over Texas Tech on Thursday and a sweep of the Women's College World Series' best-of-three championship round in Oklahoma City.
The Longhorns added two insurance runs two innings later and Texas' pitching made it hold up. The result was a repeat of the 2025 WCWS final series in which Texas defeated Texas Tech.
It continued a trend of back-to-back winners at the event. Since its inception in 1982, the WCWS has seen teams earn at least two consecutive titles 10 times, including Texas' rival Oklahoma winning the previous four in a row (2021-24) prior to the Longhorns' current run.
With her team leading by three going into the bottom of the seventh, Texas ace Teagan Kavan got a ground ball to short to start the inning, then struck out Mia Williams to move her team one out away from the title.
Kavan then struck out Mihyia Davis to set off a celebration in the circle.
Kavan struck out five in two innings to earn the save.
Texas Tech star Nija Canady was in control through the first four, allowing just two hits with no walks.
But the Longhorns finally broke through in the fifth, putting together their first serious threat with back-to-back singles to start the inning.
With two outs and runners at first and second, the Red Raiders opted to walk Katie Stewart to load the bases.
Stewart had homered in four consecutive games.
Viviana Martinez grounded to the right of shortstop Hailey Toney. Toney's throw to third went wild, allowing two unearned runs to come across.
That sequence came shortly after Texas Tech left the bases loaded in the top of the inning.
After Texas took the lead, the Longhorns (53-12) turned to Kavan in the circle.
Kavan struck out the side in the sixth.
The Longhorns then added an insurance run in the seventh on Kayden Henry's leadoff home run, then another on Leighann Goode's RBI single to right.
After the teams combined for six first-inning runs in Wednesday's first game of the series, the pitching had much more success early in Game 2.
Neither team broke through until the third, when Texas Tech (61-10) grabbed a slim advantage. Davis singled with one out, stole second, and then came around to score as Lauren Allred's hard hit ball bounced off Goode's glove at second base and into shallow center field.
--Field Level Media
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