No. 3/4 Softball falls in Game 1 of NCAA Austin Super Regional

Thursday, May 22

Austin, TX

8 PM CT

University of Texas

49-11

Clemson

48-12

Clemson

Texas

No. 3/4 Softball falls in Game 1 of NCAA Austin Super Regional

05.23.2025 | Softball

Box Score

Texas in must-win situation to keep season alive.

By: Chris Allen Brown

AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas' softball program entered Thursday night's opening game of the NCAA Austin Super Regional having only lost one game all season when scoring first. But the 11th-seeded Clemson Tigers gave the sixth-seeded Longhorns their second loss by scoring in the third and sixth innings, respectively, to win 7-4.

Following an hour-and-28-minute lightning delay after Teagan Kavan (23-5) threw just four pitches to begin the game, the Texas offense came out and broke through in the run column first in the bottom of the first. After a successful challenge to overturn a groundout to an infield single for Kayden Henry, she came all the way around to score on a fielding error following a Mia Scott bunt single.

Clemson responded with a three spot in the top of the third that was highlighted by a two-run double that got caught in the wind and went overhead the head of Texas left fielder Kaydee Bennett. Scott cut the Texas deficit down to one run with a leadoff home run to open the bottom of the third.

Each team traded zeros throughout the fourth and fifth innings, before the Tigers capitalized with the bases loaded and scored three runs on back-to-back run-scoring hits to take a 6-2 lead. Clemson added a seventh run in the frame, too, on a ground ball that deflected off Joley Mitchell at first base and landed in front of Kaydee Bennett at second.

Texas, again, appeared in prime position to either tie or take the lead in the bottom of the sixth as four consecutive base hits resulted in Henry driving in Bennett and Leighann Goode to trim the Longhorns' deficit to three. But, with two runners on, Scott lined out to a perfectly positioned centerfielder to end the threat.

FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE

"Tonight started off with a lightning delay and that's just kind of the way it went the rest of the night, but congratulations to Clemson. They played well and did what they had to do to capitalize on the opportunities they had during each at bat. They also made good decisions with their pitching changes. So, overall, we have to dig a little bit deeper and find a way to win a game tomorrow to push it to the third game."

FROM SOPHOMORE KAYDEN HENRY

"I think, probably in general, we were all pressing a little bit. I mean, I had an at bat with two outs and an opportunity to break it open with the bases loaded and I chased a pitch I probably shouldn't have. So, I think it was a little bit more about everyone trying to be the hero instead of trusting each other a little bit more and having at bats to pass the bats down the order and just trust in what we've been training for. But yeah, I'd probably say there was a bit of us putting pressure on ourselves rather than just playing the game we've been playing all season."

GAME NOTES

With her first inning run scored, Kayden Henry has now scored 67 runs throughout the 2025 season, which is tied with Taylor Hoagland (2013) for third on the program's single season runs scored list.
With her two hits throughout Friday's seven-inning contest, Ashton Maloney passed Lindsay Gardner (2000) for second on the program's single-season hit list.
By scoring in the bottom of the first, Texas has tied a program single season record by scoring at least one run in 60 consecutive games in a single season.
- The 2023 Longhorns scored in all 60 games of their campaign.
By starting Friday night's contest, Mia Scott has now started 247 career games on the Forty Acres, which ties her with Desiree Williams (2005-09) for the second most by a Longhorn softball student-athlete.
By appearing in Friday evening's game, Citlaly Gutierrez has tied Erica Wright (2015-18) for seventh on the program's career pitching appearances with 88.

UP NEXT

Texas (49-11) will look to keep its 2025 season alive as the Longhorns return to Red & Charline McCombs Field on Friday, May 23 for the second game of a three-game series against Clemson (48-12) that is slated for an 8 p.m. CT first pitch on ESPN2.

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