No. 3 Softball takes series opener at No. 24 South Carolina

Friday, March 6

Columbia, S.C.

5 p.m. CT

University of Texas

20-2, 1-0

#24 South Carolina

15-7, 0-1

Texas

South Carolina

No. 3 Softball takes series opener at No. 24 South Carolina

03.06.2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Longhorns improve to 20-1 overall and stretch their win streak to 18 games.

By: Grace Tafolla

COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 3 Texas Softball (20-1) took down No. 24 South Carolina (15-7), 4-2, in Friday night's Southeastern Conference (SEC) opener at Carolina Softball Stadium.

The Longhorns improve to 20-1 overall and 1-0 in SEC play while increasing their win streak to 18 games. Texas' 18-game win streak ties for the third-longest in program history and is its longest since piecing together 18-straight wins from April 6-May 10, 2024. Texas is 7-1 against ranked opponents this season.

Junior RHP Teagan Kavan (9-0) turned in her sixth complete game of the season in her five-strikeout effort against the Gamecocks. Kavan surrendered just one earned run on six hits across 7.0 innings pitched. Kavan worked around three walks and stranded six runners on the base paths on the night. The West Des Moines, Iowa, native has curbed opponents to two or less runs in each of her last seven outings.

Junior first baseman Katie Stewart lifted Texas offensively with her 3-for-3 performance that included a team-high three RBI – two of which coming from her 12th home run of the season. The Frankfort, Ill., product reached in all four of her plate appearances after drawing a walk.

Senior left fielder Kaiah Altmeyer reached in all four plate appearances after drawing a season-high three walks to go along with a double to right in the third.

To commence Friday's series opener, senior second baseman Leighann Goode connected on a one-out base knock to left field to put a runner on for the Longhorns in the top of the first. Altmeyer battled in a 10-pitch at-bat that resulted in a walk to put two runners on for the Horns. With two outs, Stewart beat out a slow roller to third base for her first hit of the night and load the bases for junior shortstop Viviana Martinez. A two-out, bases-loaded walk was issued to Martinez, scoring Goode from third base for a 1-0 lead.

South Carolina evened the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second after scoring on a one-out, bases-loaded walk. South Carolina flew out to Kayden Henry in center field, but the runner at third left early after tagging up, so Reese Atwood threw down to Jaycie Nichols who then tagged the base to clinch the double play and get UT out of a jam.

In the top of the third, Altmeyer roped a one-out double to deep right field to put a runner in scoring position for the heart of the Longhorn lineup. Stewart obliterated her 12th home run of the season to left to put Texas ahead, 3-1. South Carolina cut Texas' deficit to 3-2 in the bottom frame after plating an unearned run on a groundout.

After three quiet innings by both teams, Stewart gave Texas insurance in the seventh after smoking a two-out single to the center field wall, inches away from going over the fence, to send Adayah Wallace home for a 4-2 lead.

Kavan gave out a free pass after hitting SC's leadoff batter to begin the bottom half. Then, Martinez recorded a crucial first out after laying out for a ball hit to the 5-6 hole, rocketing the ball to Goode at second to send the lead runner back to the dugout. Back-to-back fly outs ended the game.

Up Next

Game two between Texas and South Carolina is set for 2 p.m. CT Saturday at Carolina Softball Stadium. The game will stream on SEC Network+. Sunday's series finale will begin at 11 a.m. on SEC Network.