Thomas JonesAustin American-Statesman
OKLAHOMA CITY — In the moments almost two weeks ago, Texas softball coach Mike White minced no words about his team’s chances in the Women’s College World Series.
We have to pitch better, he said, eyeing a super regional stat sheet that showed the Aggies’ 18 runs and 30 hits in the three games. You can’t win a championship without elite pitching, White reiterated.
The Longhorns certainly listened. In its three WCWS games so far, Texas has allowed just one hit in each contest while becoming the first team to reach the best-of-three championship series without allowing a run since Tennessee in 2007.
“We’re a little more relaxed for some reason,” White said. “I'm not sure why, but everything happens for a reason. Maybe that (Texas A&M) series helped us. They (the Longhorns) came out here and they're a little more focused, especially with the pitching staff with the shutouts. It’s been a heck of a run.”
More: Texas softball aces WCWS semifinals test, squeezes into NCAA championship series | Bohls
Teagan Kavan, Mac Morgan potent pitching combo
The run started Thursday with Teagan Kavan, who fanned eight batters while shutting out Stanford in a complete-game effort. Mac Morgan matched her season high with five strikeouts in another complete-game 10-0 victory over Florida in Game 2 on Saturday, and Kavan beat Stanford for the second time while striking out seven in Monday’s 1-0 win.
Better yet for Texas, the pitchers are not allowing runners on base for any reason. After Kavan doled out four walks in the WCWS opener, Texas has allowed just two walks and has not hit a single batter all week.
“Both of them have just thrown probably their best games they've had all season,” said catcher Reese Atwood, who set school records for RBIs and home runs in a single season this year. “I’m just super excited to see them compete and show their talent out here on the biggest stage.”
More: WATCH: Texas softball's Alyssa Washington dives in for wild winning run vs. Stanford
This is hardly a two-pitcher staff for Texas
Kavan (20-2) and Morgan (16-1) lead the team in wins and appearances, so their emergence as the primary pitchers isn’t that much of a surprise. But if one of them does falter against Oklahoma during the championship series, White knows he has options in his bullpen.
Sophom*ore Citlaly Gutierrez hasn’t pitched since struggling in her only appearance against Texas A&M but does boast an 11-2 record and a team-low 1.79 ERA, senior Estelle Czech (8-3) has tons of experience and junior Sophia Simpson has only thrown 22⅓ innings this season but threw well under the bright lights of the WCWS championship series in 2022, when the Longhorns lost to Oklahoma.
Texas pitching legend Cat Osterman, who led the Longhorns to three WCWS appearances in the 2000s, said this year’s pitching staff is the best in school history.
“I don't think there's ever been a time where you can call on four or five arms like they can now,” said Osterman, an advisor to Athletes Unlimited who attended an announcement about the impending launch of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League in Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
More: Texas shortstop Viviana Martinez played for USA Softball, and it helped journey to WCWS
Batters: We can’t just rely on pitching
But just because their pitchers are putting up historic numbers doesn’t mean the offense can let up, said the Texas players. That’s especially true as Texas gets ready for a red-hot team at the plate in Oklahoma, which beat Florida 6-5 in extra innings Tuesday to secure a spot opposite Texas in the championship series.
“We're a team that's known for scoring a lot of runs in these games,” said freshman Kayden Henry, whose dynamite diving catch in center field during Texas’ win on Monday helped preserve the shutout. “But I feel like having our pitchers do what they are doing in the circle and being so dominant, it just gives us a lot of confidence and a lot of energy to want to have their backs and want to score runs and give them some relief.”
More: Texas softball coach Mike White: World Series should rotate from Oklahoma, but it won't
Outfielder Bella Dayton, who had two sliding catches in Monday’s win, agreed with Henry, saying the team’s lineup can’t rely on its pitching staff to shut out every WCWS opponent.
“I feel like no matter what the circ*mstance, whether we're down or we're up, we're still going to score runs, no matter what,” she said.
But can that combination of dominant pitching and an explosive offense lift Texas to its first national championship? Atwood likes her team’s chances.
“We’re peaking at the right time,” Atwood said. “Our offense, our pitching, our defense; everything's just coming together at the perfect time, right when we need it. We’re so grateful to have this opportunity as a team and to be able to come together in the big moments.”
Women's College World Series finals
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma, Wednesday-Friday, Devon Park in Oklahoma City, ESPN
Game 1, 7 p.m. Wedndesday; Game 2, 7 p.m. Thursday; Game 3, if needed, 7 p.m. Friday
