After three scoreless innings, Texas and Tennessee finally broke through in the fourth, trading runs to enter the fifth inning tied.
Katie Stewart sparked the Longhorns’ offense with a solo home run to open the fifth, giving Texas its first lead of the game. Moments later, Hannah Wells delivered a clutch RBI single that plated two more runs and stretched the advantage to 4-1.
Texas added an insurance run in the seventh when Ashton Maloney drove in a run, pushing the lead to 5-1.
Tennessee threatened in the bottom half of the inning, as Emma Clarke brought home a run with the bases loaded, but the Longhorns limited the damage and closed out the 5-2 victory.
Texas ace Citlaly Gutierrez was steady throughout, allowing just five hits and one earned run over 6 2/3 innings while striking out three. The senior helped keep Tennessee’s offense in check, surrendering only eight total bases as the Longhorns secured the win.
Texas left little doubt in the elimination game, rolling to a 4-0 victory behind a dominant performance from Teagan Kavan at the mound.
Kavan struck out 10 and allowed just two hits over seven shutout innings, keeping Tennessee’s offense off balance from start to finish.
The Longhorns provided plenty of support at the plate. Viviana Martinez and Reese Atwood each drove in a run, while Kayden Henry delivered one of the game’s most memorable moments with a daring steal of home. Stewart continued her standout day at the plate, launching her second home run to help power Texas to the win.
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