No. 3 Softball blanks No. 24 South Carolina to clinch series

Saturday, March 7

Columbia, S.C.

2 p.m. CT

University of Texas

21-1, 2-0

#24 South Carolina

15-8, 0-2

Texas

South Carolina

RHP Citlaly Gutierrez delivers a pitch vs. South Carolina on March 7.

No. 3 Softball blanks No. 24 South Carolina to clinch series

03.07.2026 | Softball

Box Score

Texas defeated South Carolina, 3-0, Saturday.

By: Grace Tafolla

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Senior RHP Citlaly Gutierrez and junior RHP Teagan Kavan combined for a four-hit shutout to help No. 3 Texas Softball (21-1) defeat No. 24 South Carolina, 3-0, to clinch the series Saturday afternoon at Carolina Softball Stadium.

The Longhorns elevate their overall record to 21-1 and 2-0 in conference play. Texas has won 19-consecutive games, the third-longest streak in program history and the longest streak since winning a program-record 24 games in 2006. The Longhorns are 8-1 against ranked foes in 2026.

Gutierrez (5-0) twirled 6.0 scoreless innings to seal her fifth victory of the season, fanning five batters while stalling the Gamecocks to just four hits. Gutierrez worked around runners in scoring position in three different innings and pitched a 1-2-3 frame in the sixth. Kavan entered the seventh in relief, retiring the side with two strikeouts to earn her first save of the season. Texas' pitching staff has not allowed more than two earned runs in 15-straight games, and UT hasn't given up more than two runs in 10-consecutive games. Texas has blanked eight opponents this season.

It was zeroes through the first five innings of the game before Texas broke through in the sixth. With two outs, junior center fielder Kayden Henry tapped a bunt single in front of home plate and advanced to second base on an errant throw by South Carolina's catcher down to first. Senior second baseman Leighann Goode then roped an RBI double to right field to score Henry and grant Texas a 1-0 lead. Gutierrez stepped into the circle in the bottom half to pitch a 1-2-3 inning and prevent the Gamecocks from responding.

Senior catcher Reese Atwood began the seventh with a four-pitch walk. Junior first baseman Katie Stewart then forced a full-count walk to send Taylor Anderson, who was pinch running for Atwood, to second and place a runner in scoring position for the Horns. With no outs, junior shortstop Viviana Martinez's sac bunt to third moved Anderson to third and Adayah Wallace, who was pinch running for Stewart, to second base. With a 1-0 count, South Carolina made a pitching change with freshman designated player Hannah Wells at the plate. Wells then cracked a two-RBI single to left center to send Anderson and Wallace home and put Texas ahead, 3-0.

Following the two-run top of the seventh, Kavan entered the game and retired the side to clinch the series victory.

Up Next

First pitch for Sunday's series finale is set for 11 a.m. CT on SEC Network with Clay Matvick (play-by-play) and Danielle Lawrie (analyst) on the call. Texas then returns to the friendly confines of McCombs Field for a midweek game vs. East Texas A&M at 6 p.m. CT Wednesday, March 11, on SEC Network+.