Women's College World Series: Texas Tech walks off vs. Oklahoma, Texas blanks Tennessee to advance to finals
Lauren Allred's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning gave Texas Tech a 3-2, walk-off win over Oklahoma in the Women's College World Series. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
For the first time in five years, women's college softball will have a new national champion.
Oklahoma was eliminated from the Women's College World Series with a 3-2 loss to Texas Tech on Monday. The Sooners had to defeat the Red Raiders twice to avoid double elimination, but Lauren Allred's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh made sure that wasn't an option with a walk-off win.
Advertisement
However, Oklahoma did not go down quietly with their season at stake in the seventh inning. Hannah Coor allowed the tying run to come to the plate with a one-out single. Isabela Emerling hit into a fielder's choice but kept the inning alive for Abby Dayton to blast a game-tying, two-run homer to right-center field with two strikes.
The Red Raiders took a 2-0 lead in the second inning with Alana Johnson drawing a one-out walk against Oklahoma pitcher Sam Landry. Demi Elder then drove Johnson in with a triple. Two batters later, Bailey Lindemuth brought Elder home with a single.
For 6 2/3 innings, that was plenty of offense for Texas Tech star NiJaree Canady. Prior to the seventh and Dayton's 2-run shot, the junior right-hander allowed three hits and one walk while striking out seven Sooners batters.
Advertisement
Oklahoma's defeat ends what has been a dynastic run in women's college softball under head coach Patty Gasso. The Sooners had won the past four national championships and seven of the past 11 Women's College World Series. (They also made the finals of the 2019 tournament.)
Texas 2, Tennessee 0
Teagan Kavan pitched three scoreless innings to close out a 2-0 win for Texas over Tennessee to lead the Longhorns to the Women's College World Series finals. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Texas Longhorns are heading to the 2025 Women's College World Series finals. A day after Tennessee's dramatic win over UCLA, the Lady Volunteers were eliminated after a 2-0 loss to Texas on Monday.
Offense was nowhere to be seen early in the contest. After three scoreless innings, frustrations finally boiled over for Tennessee. Following a questionable called strikeout by the home-plate umpire, Tennessee hitting coach Craig Snider was ejected from the contest for arguing balls and strikes.
Advertisement
Snider stormed out of the dugout to confront the home-plate ump on the field before he eventually walked back to the clubhouse. While the next Tennessee hitter was able to draw a walk, Texas pitcher Mac Morgan managed a groundout to end the inning.
Morgan's ability to bounce back after Snider's outburst may have inspired the Longhorns. Texas outfielder Katie Stewart led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run on a ball that just carried over the left-field wall, giving Texas a 1-0 lead.
Texas then took out Morgan — who had a season-high four strikeouts — in favor of sophomore pitcher Teagan Kavan.
Advertisement
After two scoreless — and hitless — innings by Kavan, Texas added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. A walk by Joley Mitchell and a single by Stewart put the Longhorns in scoring position. With two outs, Texas infielder Victoria Hunter hit a ground ball to third. Tennessee's Taylor Pannell scooped up the ball, but threw it too high to first. The ball sailed into the dugout, allowing Mitchell to score.
With a 2-0 lead, Kavan took the mound in the seventh looking to close it out. Kavan allowed hard contact against the first two hitters she faced, but excellent defensive plays by Mia Scott at third and Leighann Goode at short kept Tennessee from starting a rally. Kavan then struck out Emma Clarke for the final out, sending Texas to the finals.
Tremendous pitching performances by Morgan and Kavan propelled Texas to the victory. Morgan allowed just three hits over four innings of work, striking out four. Kavan did not allow a hit over the game's final three innings. Snider's ejection couldn't help Tennessee rally. The team failed to notch a single hit after the coach was sent to the clubhouse.
With the win, Texas will move on to the finals, which will begin Wednesday. They'll take on the winner of Oklahoma and Texas Tech. Both teams will face off Monday. Because it's a double-elimination tournament, Oklahoma — which already has one loss — will need to beat Texas Tech twice in order to advance. Texas Tech can reach the finals with just one win over Oklahoma on Monday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
"Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan buys this renowned restaurant in Fort Worth Stockyards
A renowned restaurant in the heart of the historic Fort Worth Stockyard is under new ownership – and one person at the head is "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan. Sheridan, along with his business partners David Glasser and Dan Schryer, recently purchased Cattlemen's Steak House, the group announced Wednesday. Cattlemen's is currently under a multi-million-dollar renovation, which is nearing completion. The plans include enhancing the food and wine offering, adding new dining, a bar, event spaces and an outdoor patio with a live music stage. Sheridan, who, apart from Hollywood, is a native Texan, rancher and cattleman. His Four Sixes Ranch has been providing USDA grade beef to Cattlemen's Steak House, the Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection in Fort Worth and SW Steakhouse. He promises to keep the essence of the menu and the preserved time-honored concept guests love. "Fort Worth is a vital city to both our state and our nation. It is where the West begins and where the cattle business was born. It is deserving of a gathering place for those who both shaped this city's past and guide its future — where friendships can be fostered and formed, and the very best of this city can be celebrated," Sheridan said the news release. Sheridan and his partners are also adding an element called "Cattlemen's Club," which will be a members-only dining and social club with a 130-person seating capacity. It will open summer of 2025. Designer Tyler Duncan, of Duncan Design Group in Grapevine, said the club will pay homage to "everything cowboy." The Cattlemen's Club memberships will be priced at $3,000, with a one-time initiation fee of $1,000, according to the news release. Cattlemen's was created in 1947 by Jesse and Mozella Roach and has remained in the Stockyards for over 75 years. Current owners, Marti Taylor and Larry Heppe, will remain as part-owners in the restaurant. Sheridan continues to invest in North Texas This is just the latest investment by Sheridan in the Fort Worth community. Sheridan, who not only helped create "Yellowstone", has also created several other popular series for Paramount, shot extensively in the city. Recently, Sheridan's other original series, "Landman," filmed parts of its second season in Downtown Fort Worth. And among college graduates at Texas Christian University, Sheridan received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. Sheridan's commitment to the arts, Texas film industry and business has made an economic boon for North Texas.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Utah House Republicans elect new slate of leadership
Rep. Casey Snider, R-Paradise, speaks in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) In order to fill an open leadership position left by former House Majority Leader Jefferson Moss, the Utah House Republicans chose their next second-in-command during a closed-door caucus meeting Tuesday night. The House GOP elected Rep. Casey Snider, R-Paradise, for their next majority leader, picking him over Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield. Moss resigned from the Republican-controlled House effective last week to accept Gov. Spencer Cox's appointment as executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. Lisonbee previously served as majority whip and Snider served as majority assistant whip, leaving both of those positions up for grabs. Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, won election to be majority whip, while Rep. Bridger Bolinder, R-Grantsville, was elected assistant majority whip. 'I am excited to work alongside this new leadership team as we represent our caucus and work on behalf of all Utahns,' House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said in a prepared statement issued Tuesday night. 'Congratulations to Rep. Snider, Rep. Pierucci, and Rep. Bolinder. This leadership team stands ready to work on behalf of all Utahns.' Snider and Pierucci have both been rising stars in House leadership, having previously served in leadership positions before taking the higher-ranking roles. Bolinder is a relative newcomer, having first been elected in January 2023. Snider began his legislative service in October 2018, while Pierucci has served since November 2019. Snider has political experience both in Utah and Washington, D.C. He previously worked as a legislative director for a congressman, former Utah Rep. Rob Bishop, and was a staffer on the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. He has also served as a firefighter for the Paradise City Fire Department and worked in various agricultural roles. He owns and operates a 300 acre farm in Cache County, according to his campaign website. When Snider was first appointed in 2018 at the age of 33, he assumed the role as the state's youngest legislator. Now, that title belongs to Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, who took office in 2023 at the age of 25. Previously, Snider served in a powerful position as chair of the House Rules Committee, which decides which bills get committee hearings. 'I am honored to take on this role and grateful for the opportunity to serve,' Snider said in a prepared statement. 'Our leadership team is committed to serving the members of our caucus and the people of Utah with integrity and foresight as we continue to advance meaningful policy for the benefit of every Utahn.' Pierucci — who was also deemed the Legislature's youngest lawmaker when she first took office in 2018 at the age of 27 — previously worked as director of community relations for another congressman, former Rep. Chris Stewart, and as development director for the conservative think tank Sutherland Institute. As a lawmaker, Pierucci most recently served as chair of the House Education Committee. One of the most high-profile and controversial pieces of legislation she ran included the creation of the state's 'school choice' voucher program, named Utah Fits All, which a district court judge recently ruled as unconstitutional. State leaders said they would appeal the ruling to the Utah Supreme Court. 'I am thankful for the trust our Majority Caucus has placed in me,' Pierucci said in a statement. 'Our leadership team is energized and ready to represent our caucus as we work to make a lasting impact for families and communities across our state.' Bolinder owns a family construction company, according to his campaign website. He's affiliated with the Utah Manufacture Association and lists Grantsville High School as his education, according to his legislative page. Last year, he was selected to serve as chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee. 'It's an honor to earn the trust of my colleagues,' Bolinder said. 'I'm eager to get to work, to listen, and to help ensure every voice in our caucus, and every Utahn, is represented.'
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Where do Oklahoma Sooners land in ESPN's latest FPI?
Where do Oklahoma Sooners land in ESPN's latest FPI? The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to bounce back after a poor 2024 season that saw them go 6-7. Now, in 2025, Year 4 under head coach Brent Venables and Year 2 in the Southeastern Conference is a pivotal season for both the present and the future of the program. OU plays in the loaded SEC and isn't among the favorites to compete for the conference title in 2025. However, ESPN's latest Football Power Index believes Oklahoma will be much better than they were a year ago. According to ESPN's Neil Paine, "The FPI is a predictive rating system that estimates each FBS team's strength (in points per game relative to the national average) on offense, defense and special teams, making adjustments for starters lost, recruiting talent and other personnel changes. Those numbers are then plugged into the schedule, and everything is simulated 20,000 times to track each team's odds of winning its conference, making the playoff and advancing through to the national title." Oklahoma came in at No. 17 in ESPN's FPI. While that's a very good mark, it actually puts them tenth in the SEC, speaking to the overall strength of the league. The offseason additions of GM Jim Nagy, OC Ben Arbuckle, QB John Mateer, and RB Jaydn Ott, along with Venables taking command of the defense, have put the Sooners in a position to show marked improvement in 2025. Other moves like adding offensive analyst Kevin Wilson and LB coaches Nate Dreiling and Wes Goodwin to the staff and retaining DT David Stone are under the radar, but they could pay big dividends as well. However, the Sooners play what's been billed as college football's toughest schedule. They play eight of the top 20 teams in the FPI. In fact, OU's only game against Power Four competition that doesn't see them face a team in the FPI's top 20 is against Missouri. Additionally, FPI projects that the Sooners will have the ninth-best defense in the country in 2025. That defense was the only reason Oklahoma didn't lose even more games a year ago, and despite losing Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman Jr. to the NFL Draft, that unit has a chance to be good again this year. FPI thinks that two Oklahoma games are among the biggest games of the entire season. The first is on October 11th, when the Sooners take on the Texas Longhorns in the annual Red River Rivalry matchup. Texas ranked No. 1 in the FPI. The other is on November 15th, when OU travels to face the Alabama Crimson Tide, who are ranked No. 3 in the FPI. The Sooners have a chance to be one of the most improved teams in Power Four in 2025. However, Venables and Co. will have to navigate an absolutely brutal schedule if they want to have a chance to make the College Football Playoff. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
