OKLAHOMA CITY — Texas is one win away from a repeat championship over its rival.
The Longhorns rode an early scoring outburst and shaky Texas Tech protection to a 7-3 win in Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series championship collection. It’s a rematch of the 2025 collection that secured the Longhorns’ first nationwide championship with victories within the first and third video games.
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Game 2 is on Thursday (8 p.m. ET) again at Devon Park. Game 3, if vital, is on Friday.
Texas broke out for an early 5-1 lead within the first inning and commanded the remainder of the sport. Katie Stewart, Viviana Martinez and Ashton Maloney every had two RBI. Kaiah Altmeyer introduced in one other. Junior righty Teagan Kavan, the 2025 WCWS Most Outstanding Player, pitched a whole recreation permitting 3 runs off 3 hits with 6 strikeouts and a couple of walks.
The Red Raiders did not obtain the identical standout performances from their All-American pitchers, and head coach Gerry Glasco did not play video games with re-inserting them for one another. Kaitlyn Terry and NiJaree Canady confronted six batters apiece earlier than Glasco turned deeper into his bullpen for the primary time in Oklahoma City. Terry, who took the beginning, needed to come again in with the bases loaded within the backside of the sixth and Texas Tech trailing by three.
Stewart jumpstarted the Texas offense together with her fourth dwelling run in as many video games to convey round leadoff batter Kayden Henry’s single within the backside of the primary.
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It prompted Glasco to make his first pitching swap, handing the ball to Canady with runners on the corners and two outs. After a dominant exhibiting in Game 2 of the semifinals, she was listed because the beginning pitcher half-hour earlier than first pitch. Terry took the circle as an alternative, permitting 4 runs off 4 hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Canady gave up an RBI single to Altmeyer, her first batter, and Maloney’s two-RBI triple to left area. Canady’s lone strikeout got here in opposition to nine-hitter Jaycie Nichols to finish the inning. She allowed one run off two hits.
Glasco went deeper into his bullpen within the third by inserting sophomore Samantha Lincoln and pulling Canady out of the batting order. Lincoln final pitched within the tremendous regional Game 2 loss to Florida and got here into the day having pitched 17% of Texas Tech’s innings this season. Martinez’s single up the center to attain Nichols within the fourth and a sac-fly introduced her dwelling in sixth.
Texas Tech middle fielder Mihyia Davis opened the sport’s scoring with a house run to left because the second batter of the sport. Kavan confronted 16 extra batters earlier than permitting one other hit. Mia Williams went deep to middle to attain Jasmyn Burns’ lead-off stroll within the fifth that minimize the deficit 6-3.
But the Red Raiders got here up quick in any comeback bid.
See how Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series between Texas Tech and Texas performed out beneath.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Katie Stewart’s early 2-run blast gave the Longhorns the lead they usually by no means seemed again.
The Red Raiders must rally tomorrow in Game 2 to remain alive.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Longhorns added a run within the high half of the seventh, so the Red Raiders have some work to do with their final alternative.
Texas 7, TTU 3
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The TTU starter who bought yanked within the first couple outs is again in and he or she’s dealing with a bases-loaded, one-out scenario.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Longhorns nonetheless maintain a 6-3 lead and can solely want three extra outs to take the primary recreation of the WCWS after their very own flip on the plate.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Red Raiders are nonetheless alive after Mia Williams rips a low shot over middle area.
Game on in OKC!
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Cassandra Negley
That dwelling run to Mia Williams was the primary hit Teagan Kavan allowed for the reason that first inning.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Longhorns have added one other run to their lead on a Viviana Martinez RBI. They’re firmly in charge of this one forward of the fifth.
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Cassandra Negley
Texas Tech realized its lesson, albeit somewhat too late. They’ll put Katie Stewart aboard on 4 straight balls quite than let her take a pitch yard and rating one other two once more. Texas scores ANOTHER run on two outs to go up 6-1
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Cassandra Negley
Through three innings, Texas Tech is 1-for-10 on the plate whereas Texas is 6-for-15. The Longhorns are a formidable .500 (3-6) on two outs, .400 (4-10) with runners on and .667 (2-3) with runners in scoring place. Clutch.
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Cassandra Negley
Don’t assume any of us anticipated Samantha Lincoln pitching in Game 1 of the World Series! Last time Lincoln pitched was 3 1/3 innings within the second recreation of the tremendous regionals in opposition to Florida on May 23. Gave up 5 on 9 hits, three walks and one strikeout. Quite the transfer to place her in within the third. You must marvel if Glasco is giving up this recreation already and saving his aces for two extra, or if one thing is up with both Canady or Terry.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Red Raiders bought a runner on base, however could not do something with it. It’s nonetheless 5-1 Texas with the Longhorns’ Leighann Goode arising.
NiJaree Canady has subbed out for Samantha Lincoln. It’s protected to say Glasco is regretting his selections thus far.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Canady has settled in and the Longhorns who she hadn’t seen already didn’t have a lot luck.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Red Raiders weren’t in a position to get a lot going within the high half of the 2nd, so it’s nonetheless 5-1 because the Longhorns step again as much as the plate.
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Cassandra Negley
What a really a stunning technique to begin this recreation. Texas Tech commits a guffaw at first, after which the left fielder horribly misjudges the ball. There’s no solar rays on her aspect; seems to be like she got here in off the crack of the bat. We’ve seen bonkers issues right here this week, however a 5-1 lead goes to be troublesome to beat.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Glasco’s last-minute pitching change has not labored, and now Canady is in however the Longhorns teed off within the opening inning.
Texas 5, TTU 1
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Katie Stewart, aka the “Cookie Monster,” bites again with a shot in the identical space and the Longhorns have the lead within the backside half of the primary inning.
Texas 2, TTU 1
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Cassandra Negley
It’s additionally intriguing as a result of Texas Tech listed Canady because the starter of their pre-game lineup.
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Cassandra Negley
Given how robust NiJaree Canady pitched the opposite day to safe Texas Tech this berth, it’s an fascinating alternative for Gerry Glasco handy the ball to Kaitlyn Terry. He may be taking part in the sport of making an attempt to avoid wasting Canady for what they hope is a Game 2 clinch alternative tomorrow night time.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Well that did not take lengthy. Two batters, one homer. Tech’s Mihyia Davis simply blasted one over the left-center wall and the scoring is underway in OKC.
