Absolute Silencer: Henry’s home run sends No. 1/1 Softball past No. 13/11 Arizona

Saturday, February 22

Tucson, AZ

11 AM CT / 10 AM MT

University of Texas

13-1

UC Davis

5-8

UC Davis

Texas

Absolute Silencer: Henry’s home run sends No. 1/1 Softball past No. 13/11 Arizona

02.22.2025 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Texas’ offense has now outscored opponents 38-6 over last three games

By: Chris Allen Brown

TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Texas softball fans had countless moments to clap and cheer for the nation's top-ranked Longhorns throughout their 12-0 win over UC Davis and 8-4 victory over No. 13/11 Arizona on Saturday.

Less than 18 hours after putting up 18 runs against Colorado State, the Texas offense picked up where it left off by posting 12 runs in the run column against UC Davis to start Saturday's slate. Reese Atwood sparked the fire with a first-inning single to score Mia Scott just four batters into the game, before UT exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the third to balloon a 3-0 lead to 11-0 after sending 13 batters to the plate throughout the frame.

The Texas offense carried over into its top 15 contest against the Wildcats as the Longhorns strung together three hits and capitalize on an Arizona error to take an early 3-0 lead. But the three-run lead lasted five pitches in the bottom of the first after a three-run home run to the third batter of the inning tied the game at 3-3.

From there, Texas starting pitcher Teagan Kavan went on to retire the next seven consecutive batters before a single to start the bottom the fourth broke the string. However, a 6-4-3 double play from Leighann Goode to Kaydee Bennett to Joley Mitchell capped Kavan's third consecutive scoreless inning.

Kavan's consecutive scoreless inning streak spanned the next two innings as well, before Arizona managed to swing together back-to-back hits – for the first time since the bottom of the first – to begin the bottom of the seventh and tie the game at 4-4.

With the game-ending runner at second and no outs, Citlaly Gutierrez entered the pitching circle for Texas and went on to get the inning's final three outs on just 11 pitches, sending the game into extra innings.

Even after Goode, who served as the Longhorns' international tiebreaker runner at second to start the inning, failed to score on a fielder's choice off the bat of Katie Cimusz, who pushed Texas ahead, 4-3, with a two-out double in the top of the sixth, Texas was able to load the bases with one out for Ashton Maloney.

On the third pitch, Maloney sent a 1-1 pitch to left field, deep enough to score Joley Mitchell from third base and break the tie. Two pitches later, Kayden Henry broke the game open with a three-run home run to make it, 8-4, with two outs in the frame.

Mirroring the bottom of the seventh, it took Gutierrez just 11 pitches to record all three outs to seal Texas' second extra-inning win this season.

FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE

"Obviously, it was a tough atmosphere to come and play in. We were looking forward to this matchup, because (Arizona) has a lot of history and we all knew it was going to be an exciting game. I know (Arizona) was prepping very hard to play against us. Normally, when you get out to a 3-0 lead, you're able to feel a little comfortable, but they really got their runs back in a hurry. Teagan (Kavan) was able to withstand the storm and do a really good job of holding them at bay."

FROM SOPHOMORE KAYDEN HENRY

"Just, in that situation (having one out and there being runners in scoring position and being in extra innings), it was just about trying to be on time, have a good middle-middle approach and try to get something on the ground or through the infield to get one more run for our team."

GAME NOTES

With her two runs batted in (RBI) against UC Davis to begin Saturday's slate, junior Reese Atwood pushed her career RBI total to 156, passing Lexy Bennett (2009-12) for fourth on the Longhorns' career RBI list.
By going 3-for-4 at the dish against Arizona pitching, Mia Scott has now been credited with 242 career hits, which moves her passed Taylor Hoagland (2010-13) for fifth on the program's career hit list.
- Scott will enter Sunday's contest just two hits shy of passing Taylor Thom (2011-14) for fourth place and four hits away from passing Lexy Bennett (2009-12) for third.
As a result of her grand slam against UC Davis, Vanessa Quiroga became the first Longhorn softball student-athlete to hit a grand slam in back-to-back games.
- Quiroga became the first Longhorn to hit grand slams in back-to-back calendar days since Lindsey Stephens on Feb. 6 and Feb. 7, 2015.
By scoring three runs in the top of the first inning against Arizona, Texas pushed its consecutive innings played with at least one run scored to 11 consecutive frames, before failing to score in the top of the second and ending the streak.
With the win over Arizona, Texas softball head coach Mike White moves to 21-8 all time against Arizona during his collegiate softball coaching career.
- White is now 2-0 against the Wildcats at the helm of the Longhorns after posting a 19-8 record with the Oregon Ducks.
- White has now beaten Arizona in his last six consecutive matchups and 10 of the last 12 times.
Against UC Davis, Texas freshman right-hander Cambria Salmon tossed a five-inning complete game shutout, becoming the first Longhorn pitcher this season to throw a complete game shutout.
- Salmon, in five innings of work against the Aggies, posted a career-high nine strikeouts as well, surpassing her previous high by four batters.

UP NEXT

Texas (14-1) will conclude the weekend's Hillenbrand Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 23, when the Longhorns take on Colorado State at 10 a.m. CT.
- The two teams played on Friday, Feb. 21, when Texas won, 18-2, in five innings.

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