The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
47-12
Tennessee
48-10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| Texas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
No. 3 Softball falls to No. 8 Tennessee in WCWS opener
05.28.2026 | Softball
Leighann Goode had a two-run home run in the sixth – her 12th home run of the season.
OKLAHOMA CITY – No. 3 Texas Softball (47-12) opened the 2026 Women's College World Series with a 6-3 loss to No. 8 Tennessee (48-10) Thursday afternoon at Devon Park.
Texas will play No. 20 Mississippi State at 6 p.m. CT Friday, May 29, in an elimination game at Devon Park.
Senior second baseman Leighann Goode launched her 12th home run of the season – a two-run shot to center in the sixth inning – to pace Texas offensively. Goode reached base in two-of-four plate appearances after drawing a walk in the second. Senior catcher Reese Atwood, senior right fielder Ashton Maloney, freshman designated player Hannah Wells and freshman third baseman Jaycie Nichols rounded out Texas' hits tally with a base hit apiece.
Junior RHP Teagan Kavan (25-6) started in the circle for Texas and gave up three runs on three hits with three strikeouts across 3.0 innings of work. Kavan was replaced by senior RHP Citlaly Gutierrez at the top of the fourth. Gutierrez went the remaining 4.0 frames and surrendered three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
Tennessee jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second on a three-run home run with nobody out. The Lady Vols extended their lead to 4-0 in the fifth on a wild pitch that scored a runner from third.
Texas trimmed the lead to 4-1 when an errant throw to first base allowed sophomore pinch runner Taylor Anderson to score from second base.
Tennessee padded its lead to 5-1 in the sixth on a two-out single to right center.
Goode's two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth brought Texas within two runs, trailing 5-3.
Tennessee scored again in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to left field. Texas turned the sac fly into a double play after tagging the trailing runner out at third base.
Up Next
Texas faces Mississippi State in an elimination game at 6 p.m. CT Friday, May 29, at Devon Park. The game will broadcast on ESPN.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sage Mardjetko (15-2)
L: Kavan, Teagan (25-6)
S: Karlyn Pickens (7)
Batting:
2B: Ella Dodge 1 ; Elsa Morrison 1
HR: Elsa Morrison 1
RBI: Emma Clarke 1 ; Elsa Morrison 3 ; Gabby Leach 1
SH: Ella Dodge 1
SF: Emma Clarke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alannah Leach 1 ; Makenzie Butt 1 ; Elsa Morrison 1 ; Zoie Shuler 1 ; Taelyn Holley 2
HBP: Alannah Leach 1
Batting:
HR: Goode, Leighann 1
RBI: Goode, Leighann 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Atwood, Reese 1 ; Goode, Leighann 1 ; Anderson, Taylor 1
