WCWS: Replay as Texas softball beats Texas Tech for national title -Statesman

OKLAHOMA CITY — After all the postgame press conferences ended and the cameras clicked off following Texas softball’s championship-clinching 4-1 win Thursday at the Women’s College World Series over Texas Tech, Longhorns coach Mike White took a deep sigh and flashed a big smile.

“Back to back, baby!” he cracked to reporters. “It feels good to say that.”

And it feels better to win it for Texas, especially without the drama of a winner-take-all Game 3, which the Longhorns needed last season to dispatch Texas Tech.

Teagan Kavan earned her second straight WCWS most outstanding player award after tallying four complete-game wins and two saves, including one in Thursday’s victory. In seven appearances at the WCWS, Kavan threw 33⅓ innings and gave up 16 hits and seven total runs.

“This is what you dream about,” said Kavan, who retired all six of the batters she faced in the final two innings. “This is why you work hard. I kept telling myself in the bullpen, I was like, this is why we work so hard, for this exact moment right here.

“But the hard work is over when you get here. It’s just going out and playing free. With these girls behind me, I feel like I can do anything.”

Kavan had plenty of help throughout the eight-day WCWS, especially on Thursday. Senior Citlaly Gutierrez got the start and held the potent Red Raider offense to three hits and one run over 4⅓ innings. That stretch included the fourth inning, which she started on the bench after freshman Hannah Wells entered the game. But Texas Tech loaded the bags with two outs against Wells and looked poised to build on a 1-0 lead.

But Gutierrez reentered the game and promptly forced a flyout from red-hot Texas Tech outfielder Mihyi Davis for what White called “The biggest out of the World Series for us.”

The Texas offense then began to get to Red Raider ace NiJaree Canady. The Longhorns picked up two hits in the fifth and scored two runs when Texas shortstop Vivi Martinez chopped a two-out grounder ball to counterpart Hailey Toney, who wildly threw the ball past third base for the error. Jaycie Nichols and Ashton Maloney raced across home plate, and the Texas faithful finally began to outroar the larger Texas Tech contingent at Devon Park.

Texas added insurance in the seventh when Kayden Henry blasted a solo homer off Canady, and pinch runner Alisa Sneed motored home on an RBI single by Leighann Goode.

But Kavan and Texas didn’t even need that cushion while cruising to a second straight title.

Read below for a replay and highlights from Thursday as the Texas Longhorns beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Women’s College World Series.

Texas softball vs Texas Tech scoring updates

Final: Texas 4, Texas Tech 1 

Texas pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez has another brilliant start, Teagan Kavan gets the save, and the Texas bats do just enough against Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady as the Longhorns win a second national championship.

Middle 7: Texas 4, Texas Tech 1 

Kayden Henry gives Texas that little insurance with a solo homer off NiJaree Canady, and pinch runner Alisa Sneed motors home on an RBI single by Leighann Goode. Teagan Kavan will come on and try to close out a second straight national championship for Texas.

End 6: Texas 2, Texas Tech 1 

Teagan time for Texas. Kavan enters the game and strikes out the side. Texas Tech is down to its final three outs, but Texas would love a little insurance.

Middle 6: Texas 2, Texas Tech 1 

Texas Tech LF Logan Halleman makes another brilliant defensive play, this time robbing her Texas counterpart Kaiah Altmeyer of a likely RBI double. Tech pitcher NiJaree Canady gives up a single to Hannah Wells but nothing else. She’s allowed five hits with two strikeouts and two walks in six inning.

End 5: Texas 2, Texas Tech 1 

Citlaly Gutierrez stays in the game for Texas at pitcher and sends the Red Raiders down in order, even if the third out on a throw to first by 3B Jaycie Nichols was really, really close. Teagan Kavan is warming up for Texas, which is a nice ace in the hole for Mike White, so to speak.

Middle 5: Texas 2, Texas Tech 1 

A Texas Tech error gives Texas the lead. With two outs and the bases loaded, Vivi Martinez chops a ball to SS Hailey Toney, who wildly throws the ball past third base for the error. Jaycie Nichols and Ashton Maloney score after Texas tallied two hits off Tech starter NiJaree Canady.

End 4: Texas Tech 1, Texas 0

Somewhat surprisingly, Texas brings in freshman Hannah Wells to pitch for Citlaly Gutierrez, who allowed three hits with one walk and two strikeouts in three innings. Wells gives up a single to Jasmyn Burns, who eventually reaches third on a wild pitch from Wells. Wells also walks NaJaree Canady and hits Mia Williams. Guess what? Gutierrez returns with the bases loaded and gets Mihyia Davis to fly out. Curious inning from Mike White.

Middle 4: Texas Tech 1, Texas 0

Texas makes some noise with a two-out double by Reese Atwood to the wall, and Leighann Goode reaches first after getting hit by NiJaree Canady. But Canady forces a soft flyout by Hannah Wells and has only allowed two hits without a walk.

End 3: Texas Tech 1, Texas 0

An infield single by Lauren Allred drives in speedy Mihyia Davis from second. Texas 2B Leighann Goode bobbled the ball, but Davis would likely have scored anyway so no error. Davis scored after a single and her second steal of the game. Tech base-running is beating the throws of Texas catcher Reese Atwood so far.

Middle 3: Texas 0, Texas Tech 0

Texas is trying to slap its way onto base, but Tech starter NiJaree Canady is forcing a series of weak groundouts. She’s allowed just one hit and has retired nine straight batters.

Tech gets two on and one out after a walk to Kaitlyn Terry and a single by Jasmyn Burns, Tech’s first hit. But Texas starter Citlaly Gutierrez gets out of that little jam with a strikeout and a groundout by Lagi Quiroga.

Middle 2: Texas 0, Texas Tech 0

Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady gets her first strikeout of the game vs. Hannah Wells, and she quickly gets through the second inning.

End 1: Texas 0, Texas Tech 0

Tech’s Mihyi Davis gets on base after getting hit by a Citlaly Gutierrez pitch and swipes her 140th career steal, but the Red Raiders can’t get a hit.

Middle 1: Texas 0, Texas Tech 0

Texas leadoff hitter Kayden Henry opens the game with a single and gets her 30th steal of the season and 90th of her career, but Tech starter NiJaree Canady forces a pair of popouts and a groundout by Reese Atwood to get out of the inning.

 Top 1: Texas 0, Texas Tech 0

Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady throws a strike to Texas leadoff hitter Kayden Henry, and we’re off in Game 2. The Longhorns are trying to win a second straight national championship, and Texas Tech is trying to force a Game 3 Friday.

Texas softball vs Texas Tech: Citlaly Gutierrez, NiJaree Canady gets starts

Not surprisingly, Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco will start NiJaree Canady (29-6, 1.87 ERA, 0.86 WHIP) in the circle. But Texas coach Mike White resisted the temptation to start ace Teagan Kavan for a second consecutive night and will go with senior Citlaly Gutierrez, who had arguably her best game of a four-year career Monday in an elimination game against Tennessee when she threw 6⅔ innings and gave up just five hits and two runs in a 5-2 win. 

Texas softball vs Texas Tech starting lineups

Texas

Texas Tech

Texas (52-12) vs. Texas Tech (61-9): How to watch WCWS game

When: 7:08 p.m. Thursday

Where: Devon Park, Oklahoma City

TV/radio: ESPN; texaslonghorns.com

June 4, 2026

University of Texas beat reporter

Thomas Jones is the University of Texas beat reporter for the Austin American-Statesman covering Texas football, Texas men’s basketball, Texas volleyball, Texas softball and other things Bevo. Reach out at tjones@statesman.com and follow along at @ThomasJonesAAS.