Stewart’s go-ahead, three-run home run sends No. 3 Softball to WCWS Semifinals

Sunday, May 31

Oklahoma City, Okla.

2 p.m. CT

University of Texas

49-12

Nebraska

52-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Nebraska	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0
Texas	0	0	0	0	0	3	X	3	3	1

Katie Stewart home run vs. Nebraska 2026

Katie Stewart celebrates her three-run, go-ahead home run in the sixth.

Stewart’s go-ahead, three-run home run sends No. 3 Softball to WCWS Semifinals

05.31.2026 | Softball

Box Score

Texas advances to the Women’s College World Series semifinals for the third-consecutive year.

By: Grace Tafolla

OKLAHOMA CITY – Junior first baseman Katie Stewart's three-run, go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth propelled No. 3 Texas Softball to a 3-1 victory over No. 1 Nebraska Sunday afternoon at Devon Park. Texas advances to the Women's College World Series Semifinals for the third-consecutive season.

The Longhorns improve to 49-12 overall and clinched its 22nd ranked win of the season. Texas is 4-0 in elimination games this season.

Junior RHP Teagan Kavan (27-6) tossed her second-straight complete game and limited Nebraska to just one run on four hits with four punchouts across 7.0 innings of work. The only run Kavan game up was a leadoff solo home run to begin the game in the top of the first. Kavan then twirled 6.2 scoreless frames to keep Texas within striking distance. The West Des Moines, Iowa, native did not allow any free passes throughout the game. After giving up the leadoff solo home run in the first, Kavan went on to retire the next nine batters she faced. In the top of the fourth, Kavan worked around a leadoff double and induced two groundouts and a pop up to limit the damage. Kavan manufactured three 1-2-3 frames for Texas.

More sixth inning magic occurred for the Longhorns in the NCAA Tournament, this time off the bat of the Stewart. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, freshman third baseman Jaycie Nichols broke-up Nebraska's then-no-hitter with a single to shortstop. Now at the top of the order, junior center fielder Kayden Henry delivered a single through the right side and move Nichols into scoring position at second base. Down 0-1 in the count, Stewart then catapulted a no-doubt-about-it, three-run home run to left field to put Texas ahead, 3-1. Stewart's home run traveled 250 feet.

Kavan fanned Nebraska's Jesse Farrell to begin the top of the seventh. The Cornhuskers' Kacie Hoffmann cracked a one-out single to left field to put a runner on base. Kavan struck out the next batter and then induced a groundout to junior shortstop Viviana Martinez to secure the win.

Notes

Texas moves to 49-12 (.803) overall this season.
Texas secured its 22nd ranked win on the year.
The Longhorns advance to the WCWS Semifinals for the third-consecutive year.
The Longhorns are 21-17 all-time at the WCWS.
Texas has advanced to the WCWS Semifinals in all four WCWS appearances under head coach Mike White.
Texas went 2-1 vs. Nebraska this season and is now 22-19 all-time vs. the Cornhuskers.
Texas is 4-0 in elimination games this season.
With Katie Stewart's home run, Texas matched the single-season program home run record with 94. It ties with the 2025 team for the most in program history.
Stewart hit her single-season program record 28th home run.
Stewart hit her fourth career home run at the WCWS – the second-most in program history. Stewart trails Mia Scott's record of five.
Stewart's 13 career RBI at the WCWS are the second-most in program history. Stewart trails Mia Scott's record of 14.
Scoring on Stewart's home run, Kayden Henry set the program's single-season runs scored record with 75. She surpassed Mia Scott's previous record of 74, which was set in 2025.
The Longhorns have homered in all three games at the WCWS this season.
It was the second time Texas has hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning during the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Pinch hitter Victoria Hunter launched a go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth in game 2 of the Austin Super Regional vs. Arizona State on May 23.
Junior RHP Teagan Kavan clinched her eighth career win at the WCWS – the most wins in program history.
Kavan recorded her 19th complete game of the season.

Up Next

Texas has a rematch vs. No. 8 Tennessee in the WCWS semifinals at 11 a.m. CT Monday, June 1 at Devon Park. The game will broadcast on ESPN. A Texas victory in that game would force a doubleheader vs. the Lady Vols, which would begin at 1:30 p.m. or 35 minutes after the first game concludes.