No. 1/1 Softball survives to force a decisive game three on Sunday

Saturday, May 25

Austin, TX

4 PM

University of Texas

51-8

Texas A&M

44-14

Texas

Texas A&M

No. 1/1 Softball survives to force a decisive game three on Sunday

05.25.2024 | Softball

Box Score

With backs against the wall, the Longhorns extend their season with 51st win on the year.

By: Chris Allen Brown

AUSTIN, Texas – Entering Saturday's game against Texas A&M with a 'now or never' mindset, The University of Texas' softball program answered back with 'now' as the Longhorns rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the Aggies, 9-8, in nine innings to force a decisive Game 3 of the best-of-three NCAA Austin Super Regional.

Entering the top of the sixth and trailing 5-1, Joley Mitchell, who connected for a solo home run in the top of the fourth to account for the lone Longhorn run to the point of the contest, used the energy provided by 2,011 softball fans packed around the dimensions of Red & Charline McCombs Field on a sunbaked Saturday afternoon to attempt to spark an offensive rally. And it worked.

Mitchell drew a full-count walk after falling behind 0-2. Despite Mitchell being erased on a fielder's choice off the bat of Kayden Henry, Bella Dayton sent a 2-2 pitch to right field for a one-out single to advance Henry to third. The freshman speedster was ruled safe at the plate after umpires ruled the Aggie catcher obstructed the scoring opportunity moments later on a ground ball off the bat of Victoria Hunter.

Minutes after Mia Scott singled home Dayton to make it a 5-3 contest, Viviana Martinez tied the game with a single up the middle to score both Scott and Ashton Maloney. Reese Atwood pushed the Longhorns ahead, 6-5, with a run-scoring single to the left-center field gap to score Martinez, giving Texas its first lead in a NCAA Super Regional game since UT recorded a three-run top of the sixth en route to a 3-0 win a game three at Arkansas on May 28, 2022.

Despite Dayton adding a one-out, two-run home run in the top of the seventh, Texas A&M, down to its final strike in the contest, sent a 2-2 pitch over the center field fence for a game-tying, three-run home run.

After both teams traded zeros in the eighth inning, Texas re-took the lead in the top of the ninth when Henry, who led off the inning with a bunt single, stole second then advanced to third on a ground out off the bat of Dayton, scored by beating a throw to the plate on a ground ball off the bat of Maloney.

The Aggies attempted their second come-from-behind effort of the game as the leadoff batting to start the ninth reached before a two-out error allowed the potential game-winning run to reach as well. But a ground ball by pitcher Mac Morgan was collected by Leighann Goode at second base for the game's final out.

FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE

"I think, just … 'Wow, what a game.' There were certainly a lot of change of emotions throughout the day and throughout the game. Both teams played their hearts out and it really just came down to … I don't know … it just came down to winning, I guess. It felt like we really gave it everything we had out there. I'm real proud of my team and how they hung in there and all the different ways we were able to overcome some adversity and some things that happened. The pitching staff picked each other up and the defense came up with some good plays when we needed them. What an atmosphere for tonight's game. And if that's the No. 16 team, I'm dumbfounded."

GAME NOTES

With the win, the 2024 Texas Longhorns have now won 51 games throughout the season, which is tied with the 2013 squad for the second-most wins in a single season.
- The 2006 team, led by then-senior Cat Osterman, set the program's single-season wins record with 55.
With her two-hit performance on the afternoon, sophomore Reese Atwood pushed her season hit total to 77, which is tied with Mia Scott (2022) for fourth on the program's single-season hit list.
- Janae Jefferson holds the record with 92 base hits throughout the 2022 campaign.
On her one-out, single to the left-center field gap in the top of the sixth, Texas sophomore Reese Atwood was credited with her 90th RBI on the season, surpassing Oklahoma's Jocelyn Alo (2021) for second on the Big 12 Conference's single-season RBI list.
- Atwood will enter Sunday's winner-take-all game just two RBI back of tying the league's single-season RBI record set by Tiare Jennings (92) throughout the 2021 season.
With Bella Dayton's two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning, the 2024 Texas Longhorn offense has tied the program's single-season record for most home runs with 88.
Sunday's game will mark the fourth game three in a NCAA Super Regional for the Longhorns — in five completed seasons — under sixth-year head coach Mike White.
- Texas is 1-2 in the previous three contests but did win the last one with a 3-0 victory over then-No. 4 seed Arkansas in Fayetteville on May 28, 2022.

UP NEXT

With an opportunity for its second Women's College World Series berth in the last three seasons, Texas (51-8) and Texas A&M (44-14) will square off in a winner-take-all game three of the 2024 NCAA Austin Super Regional at 6:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, May 26.

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