OKLAHOMA CITY — Two unearned runs in the fifth inning sparked Texas to a 4-1 win over Texas Tech on Thursday and a sweep of the Women’s College World Series’ best-of-three championship round.
The Longhorns (53-12) added two insurance runs two innings later and Texas’ pitching made it hold up. The result was a repeat of the 2025 WCWS final series in which Texas defeated Texas Tech (61-10).
It continued a trend of back-to-back winners at the event. Since its inception in 1982, the WCWS has seen teams earn at least two consecutive titles 10 times, including Texas’ rival Oklahoma winning the previous four in a row (2021-24) prior to the Longhorns’ current run.
“This one felt harder for some reason,” Longhorns coach Mike White said, comparing this year’s run to the title vs. last year’s. “Just because we had so many ups and downs.”
With her team leading by three going into the bottom of the seventh, Texas ace Teagan Kavan got a ground ball to short to start the inning, then struck out Mia Williams to move her team one out away from the title.
Kavan then struck out Mihyia Davis to set off a celebration in the circle.
Kavan fanned five in two innings to earn the save, her fifth of the season.
“This is what you dream about. This is why you work hard,” said Kavan, who became the first pitcher with two shutouts and two saves in one WCWS and earned the most valuable player award.
White said, “Teagan was lights out.”
Texas Tech star NiJaree Canady (29-7) was in control through the first four innings, allowing just two hits with no walks.
The Longhorns finally broke through in the fifth, putting together their first serious threat with back-to-back singles to start the inning.
With two outs and runners at first and second, the Red Raiders opted to walk Katie Stewart to load the bases.
Stewart had homered in four consecutive games.
Viviana Martinez grounded to the right of shortstop Hailey Toney. Toney’s throw to third went wild, allowing two unearned runs to come across.
That sequence came shortly after Texas Tech left the bases loaded in the top of the inning against starter Citlaly Gutierrez (11-3), who allowed one run on three hits in 4 1/3 innings.
After Texas took the lead, the Longhorns (53-12) turned to Kavan in the circle.
Kavan struck out the side in the sixth.
The Longhorns then added a run in the seventh on Kayden Henry’s leadoff home run, then another on Leighann Goode’s RBI single to right.
After the teams combined for six first-inning runs on Wednesday in the first game of the series, the pitching had much more success early in Game 2.
Neither team broke through until the third, when Texas Tech (61-10) grabbed a slim advantage. Davis singled with one out, stole second, and then came around to score as Lauren Allred’s hard-hit ball bounced off Goode’s glove at second base and into shallow center field.
The Longhorns won six games when facing elimination during the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s very obvious that this team plays very good with our backs against the wall,” Texas leadoff hitter Kayden Henry said. “I think we lost the first game, but I don’t think that brought our confidence down any bit. I just think it helped us bond a little bit more together and just realize how tough we really are and how we really have done this brick by brick and we’ve built this team together off of straight passion and love and just let that carry us through the moments.”
Canady’s career ended with four WCWS appearances but no titles.
“I don’t think someone’s whole career is defined by a national championship,” Canady said.
Red Raiders coach Gerry Glasco added, “You wanted to see the career of Nija Canady end with a championship. … She’s given so much to the sport and that’s going to be a great legacy that she’s impacted our sport in so many ways.”
–Field Level Media
