Scott showing out at 3B

New York Times

2 days ago

Follow our coverage of the WCWS from Oklahoma City as the six remaining teams chase the softball national title Imagn Images Imagn Images
Mia Scott is putting on a defensive showcase at third for Texas. Teagan Kavan is forcing these Gators hitters to swing out of the zone, and somehow, they're still making decent contact, but Scott is gobbling up every hop that comes her way. For as much love as offense gets in Oklahoma City, it's looking like defense may be what wins this first game of the weekend. Imagn Images
T6 - Texas 1, Florida 0
Teagan Kavan has her second 1-2-3 inning and continues to keep Florida scoreless. She has limited the Gators to one hit and two walks and has recorded two strikeouts.
B5 - Texas 1, Florida 0
Huge strikeout for Keagan Rothrock, who gets Reese Atwood to end the top of the fifth with two runners on. Rothrockhas four strikeouts and has kept the Longhorns in check.
Now would be a great time for Reese Atwood to get going for the Longhorns, as both teams have struggled with runners on base.
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But the Longhorns come up short yet again with a runner in scoring position. That's a tough pitch to go down looking on if you're Atwood, but maybe that will give the Gators some momentum heading to the plate. Imagn Images
I'm sorry … Did I just hear that right? Florida's Korbe Otis is a competitive go-kart driver?? I'm going to need the broadcast to elaborate more on that.
Also cool, Otis is working on her personal statement to apply to medical school — She was the SEC Scholar of the Year.
T5 - Texas 1, Florida 0
Gators have their first hit on a single from Korbe Otis, but Teagan Kavan keeps them off the board for the fourth straight inning. She has been impressive through the first four. Imagn Images
It's the fourth inning, and Teagan Kavan has picked up her first strikeout of the 2025 WCWS. On the broadcast, Michelle Smith and Jessica Mendoza said the Longhorns ace looked nervous to start this game, but she only looks like she's getting more locked in as this game gets deeper.
Texas' Teagan Kavan gets her first strikeout of the day against her 12th batter, Reagan Walsh. Imagn Images
With all the players using sliding mitts these days, you don't see many feet-first slides anymore in softball. That slide from Joley Mitchell right there, which now puts runners on third and first for Texas, was a rare exception this tournament.
B4 - Texas 1, Florida 0
Somewhat of a risky move by Joley Mitchell heading to third on that ball to Rylee Holtorf at short, as you never want to make the third out of an inning (or the first, for that matter) at third base. Would have been key for Holtorf to get out of the inning by throwing to first there, but Mitchell's confident read on the ball is what got her there.
It ends up not mattering, but aggressiveness on the basepaths would come into play in this tight matchup so far.
It's back to the circle for Keagan Rothrock in the top of the fourth. On the ESPN broadcast, Florida coach Tim Walton said she's 'thrown a really good game' thus far.
'Defensively, (we're) playing well behind her. I think she's setting a really good tone for us.'
Texas still leads 1-0.
T4 - Texas 1, Florida
Teagan Kavan has been in control through the first three innings. She has held the Gators hitless and has worked around two walks.
There's so much talk, understandably, about Oklahoma's dominance within college softball. You've probably heard that the Sooners are going for their fifth consecutive title. Well how about this: There are some former Sooners at the WCWS this week, too, trying to help other teams dethrone the Sooners.
Both Florida catcher Jocelyn Erickson and Tennessee catcher Sophia Nugent won national titles with OU earlier in their careers; Erickson in 2023, Nugent in both 2022 and 2023. In the past leaving a dominant program like OU would have seemed unthinkable, but with instant eligibility and name, image and likness money, the transfer portal has become prevalent in every NCAA sport. Nugent will match up with her former team in the second game of the day, when Tennessee takes on OU in the mostly highly anticipated matchup of the first round.
Another former Sooners connection in OKC this week: Oregon coach Melyssa Lombardi, who spent 21 seasons in Norman on Patty Gasso's staff, the final 10 as associate head coach. She is an OU alum, too. This is Lombardi's seventh season at Oregon, and the first time she's led the Ducks to the WCWS. Oregon plays former Pac-12 foe UCLA in the final game of the day.
B3 - Texas 1, Florida 0
Other than the LONG home run she gave up in the second inning, Keagan Rothrock has been on point in the circle for Florida. She has given up two hits total and has struck out three Longhorns batters.
While the Gators don't have anything to show for it yet, the at-bats they're having against Teagan Kavan are getting more and more impressive. Kenleigh Cahalan's line-out to center a pitch after using every inch possible of her bat to foul off a dirty changeup to stay alive shows these Florida batters are locked in. Now they just need to break through.
T3 - Texas 1, Florida 0
Impressive start by Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan, who has held the powerful Florida offense hitless through two innings. That's just the start Texas was looking for.
Woahhhh what a stroke for fifth-year Joley Mitchell to get the Longhorns on the board. Homers have become a hallmark of the WCWS, and that's the first one of the weekend. You love to see it.
T2 - Texas 1, Florida 0
Texas has jumped on top with a no-doubt home run from Joley Mitchell. It's her 15th home run of the season, according to the broadcast, the Longhorns are 39-2 when they score first. Courtesy of Texas Athletics
One thing I will be keeping my eye on is Texas ace Teagan Kavan. In the Supers against Clemson, I feel like it was one of the first times on a big stage we saw Kavan really waver. While she's really the Longhorns' workhorse, it'll be key to see how things change if they do at some point have to turn to the bullpen.