The battle continues

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
Really odd situation, as after a lengthy at-bat, Abigale Dayton just barely tipped a rise ball by Teagan Kavan that popped into and out of the glove of Reese Atwood behind the plate. Dayton was headed toward the dugout, and Tia Milloy ran home on what appeared to be the third out, but the umpires finally came to the conclusion that it was in fact a foul ball. Patty Gasso was getting a little heated talking to the umpire after what has been somewhat of an iffy inning in terms of strike calls by the home plate umpire.
It ends up not mattering, as Kavan strands Milloy at third after getting Dayton to pop out to Mia Scott at third in foul territory. What a battle that was. Imagn Images
B6 - Texas 3, Oklahoma 2
The Sooners got a runner to third base with one out, but Teagan Kavan got a strikeout and forced a foul out to Mia Scott at third base, and the Longhorns still have the lead. Imagn Images
These Oklahoma fans are going WILD at Devon Park right now after a wild pitch by Teagan Kavan sends pinch-runner Tia Milloy to third with just one out as the tying run. But Kavan quiets them really quick after locking up pinch hitter Maya Bland with a rise ball up in the zone. Imagn Images
The Longhorns have been hitting Sam Landry HARD all game, with only three runs to show for it. For example, Mia Scott ripped a single up the middle after Henry's homer, and Reese Atwood just smoked a liner toward third ... but right into the glove of Nelly McEnroe-Marinas. That ball popped off Atwood's bat so quickly that Katie Stewart didn't even have time to turn around to go back to first after her lead, ending the inning as she gets doubled-up at first.
Texas is back on top!!! What a nice swing by Kayden Henry on a changeup by Sam Landry. Henry sunk into her front leg to really wait on that offspeed pitch and then let her hands do the rest of the work. She pulled that ball down the right-field line, and it was out of here QUICK to give the Longhorns a 3-2 lead. And they just showed her mom crying in the stands after the fact ... I may or may not have shed a tear.
For anybody keeping track, Texas coach Mike White is now back in the third-base coach's box. I would pay to be a fly on the wall to see the reasoning behind this. The only other thing I can think of besides trying to pick Sam Landry's pitches is to maybe deter Oklahoma players from picking up on any of Texas' signs, but with arm cards and number combinations, that's not as common in the game anymore.
B5 - Texas 3, Oklahoma 2
Wow, that came out of nowhere. Kayden Henry rips a quick shot over the right-field wall, and the Longhorns are back on top. Just like that.
B5 - Oklahoma 2, Texas 2
Upon first glance, I was super confused by the fact that it looked like Texas first baseman Joley Mitchell just totally didn't go for that ball hit by Gabbie Garcia. But after seeing that replay, that ball took one of the weirdest hops we've seen all weekend so far. Can't fault Mitchell for that one.
Teagan Kavan gets her fourth strikeout of the game on a beautiful curve that just nicks the outside corner to freeze Nelly McEnroe-Marinas in the box. Kavan looks so much more comfortable in the circle than she has in previous matchups against Oklahoma.
To Molly's point about the offenses struggling, this feels like we're headed to another extra-inning game unless one of these teams can scratch something across. We saw that last night in the Oregon-Ole Miss game that went 10 innings and lasted four hours.
Tavan Keagan and Sam Landry look like they're in complete control of these two offenses.
After the Longhorns stranded two more runners in the bottom of the fourth, that's now nine total runners left on base between both teams in this game. With runners in scoring position, both Oklahoma and Texas are batting 1-4. Imagn Images
T5 - Oklahoma 2, Texas 2
That being said, however, some of Sam Landry's changeups this inning have been nasty . If I'm a Texas hitter, I don't want anything to do with that pitch until there are two strikes in the count.
They haven't been calling it, but Oklahoma's Sam Landry has been stepping out of the pitcher's lane (the two white chalk lines extended from the mound in the circle). That is considered an illegal pitch, but so far these umps haven't caught it. On the broadcast, though, it's very clear. If Texas coaches start to catch on and let these umpires know, that can really get in a pitcher's head and mess with her rhythm.
Another odd thing that's happening is Texas coach Mike White has swapped from third base to first base coaching while the Longhorns are on offense. It appears he's trying to see if he can pick one of Landry's pitches to help his batters out to let them know what to look for to expect what's coming, but they've now also switched third-base coaches. I wonder what's going on in that dugout.
B4 - Texas 2, Oklahoma 2
For as much as we've praised these offenses, there has not been an extra-base hit in this game. As my dad always says, it's time to "wake up the bats." I think the fans at Devon Park – probably mostly Oklahoma fans – are ready to explode after not seeing any homers since Tennessee's back-to-back shots in yesterday afternoon's matchup.
B4 - Texas 2, Oklahoma 2
Teagan Kavan remains in control. She has three strikeouts and has allowed just one earned run through the first four innings. Imagn Images
Rise balls are the hardest pitches to bunt, especially if it is as elite as Teagan Kavan's. The Sooners are trying to get a rally going, but Bella Emerling popped that attempt straight up to third base. One of the worst feelings as a player, to be so honest. Imagn Images
T4 - Texas 2, Oklahoma 2
Similar to last night's matchup between Ole Miss and Oregon, a lot of these speedy batters are getting on quickly and then are left stranded on the bases. It's considerably harder for offenses to score runs with two outs based on just statistics alone, and so far neither team has been able to put up more than two runs so far in this one. Still a lot of game left, but at some point one of these explosive offenses has to break through.
One player I'm still waiting to break out for Texas at the WCWS? Reese Atwood. She's the Longhorns' power bat, but we haven't seen one leave the park yet from the Longhorns catcher.
B3 - Texas 2, Oklahoma 2
Teagan Kavan's rise ball is on another level right now. She has been getting some of these Sooners hitters to chase way up out of the zone.
T3 - Texas 2, Oklahoma 2
That was a GREAT play by OU first baseman Cydney Sanders to step on first and make a clean throw to Gabbie Garcia at second base, who lays the perfect tag on Katie Stewart, erasing a leadoff walk. The broadcast just showed that Oklahoma already has six double plays this tournament, tied for the most by any team.