Rothrock out

New York Times

01-06-2025

Follow our coverage of the WCWS from Oklahoma City as the six remaining teams chase the softball national title Imagn Images Imagn Images
Keagan Rothrock is out after five innings, 105 pitches and three runs given up. Ava Brown is now in the circle for the Gators. Imagn Images
I say it every year, but every year I really mean it: the tradition of giving the home run balls to the players' parents in the stands gives me chills EVERY time. One of the things that makes these players and personalities in the WCWS so special.
BACK-TO-BACK!! The Longhorns are all over Keagan Rothrock now, as Katie Stewart absolutely launches one into the right field bleachers. She drove that outside curve the other way, her first oppo taco of the season. That one got out of here FAST.
Again, and again!
Back-to-back homers for Texas from Joley Mitchell and Katie Stewart give Texas the three-run lead.
Kendra Falby, otherwise known as Kendra Wall-by, is infamous for her home run robberies. But her attempt on Joley Mitchell's second homer of the day was just out of reach. Mitchell is now the first-ever Texas player to have multiple homers in a game at the WCWS. Imagn Images
T6 - Texas 2, Florida 0
Joley Mitchell strikes again with a solo home run, and it's 2-0 Longhorns in the top of the sixth. Mitchell has provided all the offense in this game.
I love Mia Scott's game. She had some killer defensive plays during the regional and Super Regional, too. I would not feel good hitting a ball toward her. 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.