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New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Women's College World Series 2025 live updates: Oregon, Oklahoma tied in elimination game
Follow our coverage of the WCWS from Oklahoma City as the five remaining teams chase the softball national title Imagn Images And to Lindsay's point, there are plenty of home run hitters in the Gators' lineup, and the fact that Korbe Otis and Kendra Falby are also among those power bats makes this team even more dangerous. The perfect mix of speed and power can truly cause some chaos. Imagn Images ESPN talking about how many HR hitters Florida has reminds me of former UCLA coach Sue Enquist's point that softball is special and unique because the No. 8 hitter can change the complexion of a game. The Gators are a perfect example of that. That's one reason this game is so fun and rising in popularity across the country: There's no such thing as a boring part of the lineup. M1, Texas O, Florida 0 It's still incredibly early, but that was an impressive first inning by Keagan Rothrock for Florida. Her riseball to strike out Reese Atwood looked NASTY. My early analysis: I love these yellow flowers in the Florida players' hair Ah, the best time of the year is back! That intro video gave me chills. But to be honest, it's always a shock to hear that it's been a decade since the SEC won a natty. For as dominant as the conference has been in the sport for so long, it's crazy to think that the addition of Oklahoma and Texas to the group could be what puts the conference back on top. Imagn Images The Women's College World Series opener between Florida and Texas is upon us. Let's go! When Sue Enquist played softball at UCLA in the late 1970s, the program followed a simple motto: The game doesn't know who's supposed to win. The Bruins were not yet the powerhouse they'd become. The players wore T-shirts from the men's track team as game uniforms and saw themselves as underdogs. Guided by Sharron Backus, the program's head coach and architect, they wielded their doormat status like a weapon. Enquist stayed with the program for the next three decades, first as an assistant, then a co-head coach with Backus, and finally as the head coach from 1997 to 2006. Part of 11 national championships, she won more than 83 percent of her games. When the Bruins became a national juggernaut, the perspective behind the motto flipped: UCLA could never overlook anyone because the game still did not know. 'The beautiful thing about sport,' Enquist said, 'is you must go out there every single day, remembering you must meet those one-pitch moments, because the game doesn't know who is supposed to win.' GO FURTHER Sue Enquist won 11 national championships. These are her 4 favorite leadership principles Even inside the opulent owner's suite at Covenant Health Park, there is only so much to do before a rain-delayed minor league baseball game on a Tuesday night. The Tennessee softball team already has discussed the ceremonial first pitch — someone suggested a pickoff throw — and rehearsed how record-breaking ace Karlyn Pickens can avoid an awkward hug with the Knoxville Smokies' mascot. They annihilated a food spread featuring sliders, hot dogs and chocolate chip cookies in about eight minutes. They took a group photo with team owner Randy Boyd, who's also the president of the University of Tennessee system. He was not, however, their most entertaining visitor. At one point, a clubhouse attendant arrived with a delivery: A Columbus Clingstones player wrote his phone number on a baseball and sent it up to Lady Vols pitcher Charli Orsini. (She has a boyfriend and the Clingstone is hitting .160. It's a strikeout.) After all this, it's only 7:38 p.m., and the actual first pitch remains a distant hope. Boredom looms. So two Lady Vols decide to record a TikTok. And they invite their head coach to join. GO FURTHER How a lawyer heeded one Pat Summitt tenet to become Tennessee's winningest coach For Texas Tech, a national championship is a million-dollar pursuit. Last summer, the school made a pricey name-image-and-likeness move in hopes of reaching its first Women's College World Series. Last week, that investment paid off. No. 12 Texas Tech swept No. 5 Florida State in the Tallahassee super regionals behind Canady, who threw every pitch for the Red Raiders in the historic back-to-back wins and held Florida State to 5-of-49 hitting (.102) in the series. Canady — a 6-foot junior ace — transferred from Stanford after accepting a $1,050,024 NIL offer from Texas Tech. After leading the Cardinal to the WCWS in 2023 and 2024, she's back again. Canady, who leads the nation with an .89 ERA, also became the first to repeat as the NFCA Pitcher of the Year. GO FURTHER Women's College World Series storylines to watch: Can Oklahoma 5-peat? Will SEC's numbers win out? How Texas advanced to the WCWS: Regional Defeated Eastern Illinois 10-2 Defeated Michigan 16-4 Defeated UCF 9-0 Super Regional Lost to Clemson 7-4 Defeated Clemson 7-5 Defeated Clemson 6-5 Tennessee junior ace Karlyn Pickens set the record for the fastest pitch in college softball history on March 24. She broke her record two months later. Pickens threw a 79.4 mph flamer against Nebraska star Jordy Bahl in the super regionals, something we 'wouldn't see in MLB,' ESPN analyst Jessica Mendoza said. '(That's) upwards of 108 to 110 mph when you're thinking about reaction time. So put yourself in the batter's box, crank up the machine to 108, 109, that's what it's like at 43 feet at 79 mph. It's incredible.' Throughout the three games against Nebraska, Pickens posted 28 strikeouts and allowed 11 hits in just over 17 innings. She shut out the Cornhuskers in Game 3 to secure the trip to Oklahoma City. There, she now faces one of the deepest lineups in the country: Oklahoma. 'I think it'll be exciting to watch Pickens pitch to Oklahoma, because I think she is absolutely an elite pitcher and they are absolutely an elite offensive team, so that will be super fun to watch,' Heard said. Pickens also has the nation's second-best ERA behind Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady. GO FURTHER Women's College World Series storylines to watch: Can Oklahoma 5-peat? Will SEC's numbers win out? Oklahoma has won the past four softball national titles, something no other program has accomplished. UCLA won three straight from 1988-90 and won a fourth in five years in 1992. Arizona won four out of five years from 1993-97. But no program has matched the Sooners' dominance. They went 235-15 in the previous four seasons, and they are 50-7 this season. If Oklahoma wins the title this year, it will move into solo second with nine national titles (it's currently tied with Arizona). UCLA has the most titles with 13. Imagn Images How Florida advanced to the WCWS: Regional Defeated Mercer 8-0 Defeated Florida Atlantic 14-6 Defeated Mercer 8-0 Super Regional Defeated Georgia 6-1 Lost to Georgia 2-1 Defeated Georgia 5-2 *In a row. Despite welcoming 14 newcomers, Oklahoma has shown no signs of a reset or rebuild, thanks in large part to Sam Landry, a Louisiana transfer ace and SEC Newcomer of the Year. The Sooners have cruised up to this point in the playoffs, advancing out of the regional round in three games and out of the super regionals — against No. 15 Alabama — in two. With Landry, they're led by Gabbie Garcia, Kasidi Pickering, Ella Parker, Ailana Agbayani and Nelly McEnroe-Marinas on offense. The Sooners walk into their ninth straight WCWS having outscored opponents 47-5. Their plus-42 run differential is an NCAA tournament all-time seventh-best, with five of the previous six teams reaching that mark going on to win the title, according to ESPN. 'It doesn't matter how much you prepare for them. You need to play your best version of softball against them because they know how to win,' Waters said. GO FURTHER Women's College World Series storylines to watch: Can Oklahoma 5-peat? Will SEC's numbers win out? When she goes to baseball games, Virginia Tech's Cori McMillan sometimes has no idea what's going on. That's not because McMillan, an outfielder for the Hokies and this season's home run leader (31) in Division I softball, doesn't know the rules of baseball. It's because the white ball is much harder to see when hit into the clouds. When a bat makes contact and launches the ball skyward, she frequently loses sight of it. She laughed, recalling this, the absurdity of one of the best softball players in the country getting momentarily confused while watching her brother's sport. But can you blame her? The ball that McMillan plays with is hard to miss — a highlighter colored ball, offset with raised red seams that is so bright, it's easy for batters to see and make contact. The yellow ball has made softball a hitters' sport, with players throughout the lineup regularly smashing home runs. GO FURTHER How did college softball become a hitter's game? Texas was the No. 6 seed for the NCAA Tournament: Coach: Mike White Record: 51-11, 16-8 in the SEC Players to watch: Mia Scott, .438 average, 8 HR, 35 RBIs Ashton Maloney, .436, 23 RBIs Reese Atwood, .416, 21 HR, 85 RBIs Kayden Henry, .410, 30 SB Joley Mitchell, .385, 14 HR, 60 RBIs Katie Stewart, 370, 15 HR, 76 RBIs Teagan Kavan, 24-5, 2.56 ERA, 212 K Citlaly Gutierrez, 10-1, 2.75 ERA We're almost there. Eight teams for one trophy. Florida was the No. 3 seed for the NCAA Tournament: Coach: Tim Walton Record: 48-15, 14-10 in the SEC Players to watch: Kendra Falby, .433 average, 34 RBIs, 36 SB Taylor Shumaker, .389, 22 HR, 86 RBIs Reagan Walsh, .348, 14 HR, 60 RBIs Mia Williams, .343, 19 HR, 44 RBIs Oxley, Katelynn, 8-5, 2.59 ERA Ava Brown, 11-3, 2.59 Keagan Rothrock, 16-6 Kara Hammock, 9-1
New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Scott showing out at 3B
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. ... 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.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Rothrock out
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. ... 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.
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Mitchell homers twice to lead Texas over Florida 3-0 in Women's College World Series' opening game
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Joley Mitchell homered twice and Teagan Kavan allowed just two hits to lead sixth-seeded Texas past No. 3 seed Florida 3-0 on Thursday to open play at the Women's College World Series. Mitchell homered in the second and sixth innings off Florida ace Keagan Rothrock, becoming the first Texas player to hit multiple home runs at the World Series. Texas (52-11) will play the winner of Thursday's game between Oklahoma and Tennessee on Saturday. Florida (48-16) will play the Oklahoma-Tennessee loser on Friday in an elimination game. Back-to-back home runs by Mitchell and Katie Stewart in the sixth ended Rothrock's day. She was pulled after throwing 105 pitches. Three of the five hits she allowed were home runs. Mitchell's first home run traveled 250 feet to left field. The Gators were hitless through three innings against Kavan, who improved to 25-5. Florida finally broke through in the fourth inning when Korbe Otis lined a base hit off Mitchell's glove at first base. Texas led 1-0 in the fifth but threatened against Rothrock, putting runners on first and second with two out. She struck out Reese Atwood looking to end the inning. ___ AP college sports:
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Women's College World Series live updates: Florida Gators vs. Texas Longhorns
Women's College World Series live updates: Florida Gators vs. Texas Longhorns Florida softball begins its 2025 College World Series journey on Thursday at noon with a game against fellow SEC powerhouse No. 7 Texas. There's some history here as the Longhorns eliminated the Gators a year ago to advance to the championship series. This Gators team has new faces, of course, and won the season series against Texas without starting pitcher Keagan Rothrock. Just as in baseball, winning Game 1 of pool play in the College World Series is crucial. It's double elimination during this stage, and having a loss to give means everything with just a handful of games left. Florida is a very complete team, but it's the power factor that's going to make the difference. The Gators have more than 100 homers as a team, and freshman phenom Taylor Shumaker is one of the young stars of the sport. As the first pitch gets underway, settle in and follow along with this live blog as it's updated during the game. What channel is Florida vs Texas on today? TV Channel: ESPN Livestream: Fubo (free trial) Florida vs Texas will be broadcast nationally on ESPN on Thursday, May 29. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers. Florida vs Texas time today Date: Thursday, May 29 Thursday, May 29 Start time: Noon ET The Florida vs Texas game starts at noon ET at Devon Field in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Thursday, May 29. WCWS schedule 2025 for Thursday, May 29 Game 1: No. 3 Florida vs. No. 6 Texas | noon | ESPN (Fubo) No. 3 Florida vs. No. 6 Texas | noon | ESPN (Fubo) Game 2: No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Tennessee | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo) No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Tennessee | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo) Game 3: Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Texas Tech | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo) Ole Miss vs. No. 12 Texas Tech | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo) Game 4: No. 16 Oregon vs. No. 9 UCLA | 9:30 p.m. ESPN2 (Fubo) * All times ET Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
