No. 3 Softball advances to third-consecutive WCWS Championship Series

Monday, June 1

Oklahoma City, Okla.

11 a.m. CT

University of Texas

50-12

Tennessee

49-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas	0	0	0	1	3	0	1	5	13	4
Tennessee	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	5	1

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

Citlaly Gutierrez at the WCWS vs. Tennessee

No. 3 Softball advances to third-consecutive WCWS Championship Series

06.01.2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Longhorns beat Tennessee twice to advance to their fourth Championship Series in five years.

By: Grace Tafolla

OKLAHOMA CITY – No. 3 Texas Softball swept a doubleheader vs. No. 8 Tennessee to advance to its third-consecutive Women's College World Series Championship Series Monday afternoon at Devon Park. Texas won the first game, 5-2, and then won the winner-take-all second game, 4-0.

Texas advances to its fourth WCWS Championship Series over the last five years. Texas has played in the WCWS Championship Series in 2022, 2024, 2025 and now 2026.

The Longhorns improve to 51-12 overall and recorded their 23rd and 24th victories vs. ranked opponents. Texas is 6-0 in elimination games this season.

Game 1

Senior RHP Citlaly Gutierrez (10-3) fueled Texas to a 5-2 victory in the first game vs. the Lady Vols. Gutierrez limited Tennessee to one earned run on five hits with three strikeouts across 6.2 frames. The Stamford, Texas, native held Tennessee hitless through the game's first 3.2 innings. Gutierrez retired the first 11 batters she faced before Tennessee got its first base hit in the top of the fourth with two outs. Gutierrez kept the Lady Vols scoreless until Tennessee broke through with a two-out, one-run triple down the right field line in the fourth. Tennessee added its second run in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out, bases-loaded single to second base to trim Texas' lead to 5-2. Junior RHP Teagan Kavan, who replaced Gutierrez in the circle with two outs in the seventh, earned her fourth save of the year after recording a game-ending strikeout to force a second game.

It was a scoreless affair until the top of the fourth when senior catcher Reese Atwood blasted a leadoff solo home run to center field to put Texas in front, 1-0. It was Atwood's 19th home run of the season.

Tennessee responded in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out triple down the right field line to even the game at 1-1. Gutierrez stranded the runner at third after inducing a pop up to senior second baseman Leighann Goode.

In the top of the fifth, junior first baseman Katie Stewart smashed a one-out, solo home run to left field to regain the Texas lead at 2-1. Following Sewart's home run, junior shortstop Viviana Martinez roped a double to left center, Atwood recorded a walk and Goode singled to right field to load the bases for freshman designated player Hannah Wells. Wells knocked in two runs on her single off the center field wall to increase the Texas lead to 4-1.

The Longhorns added insurance in the top of the seventh when senior right fielder Ashton Maloney's RBI groundout to first base allowed Wells to score from third for a 5-1 advantage.

Game 2

Junior RHP Teagan Kavan went the distance and recorded her program-record, fifth career complete game shutout at the WCWS to help Texas secure the 4-0 win. Kavan tossed a two-hit shutout vs. Tennessee to clinch Texas' spot in the Championship Series. The West Des Moines, Iowa, native totaled 10 strikeouts – her ninth double-digit strikeout performances. Kavan did not allow an extra-base hit or give up any free passes. Kavan retired the first 11 batters she faced before Tennessee recorded a two-out single in the top of the fourth. Kavan struck out the next batter to strand the runner at first.

Texas put up a three-spot in the third inning to go up 3-0 on the Lady Vols. With one out and the runners at the corners in the bottom of the third, Martinez cracked a single that bounced over third base to score freshman third baseman Jaycie Nichols to make it 1-0 Texas. A double steal by Martinez to second base drew a muffed throw by Tennessee and allowed Henry to steal home from third to stretch the led to 2-0. Atwood rocketed an RBI double to left center to give Texas a 3-0 advantage.

Stewart demolished her program-record 30th home run of the year on a solo shot to left center to grant Texas a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Notes

Texas improved its record to 51-12 overall this season.
Texas is 6-0 in elimination games this season.
The Longhorns have 24 ranked wins on the year.
Texas, now with 97 home runs this year, set a new single-season program record after surpassing the 2025 team's previous record of 94.
It marks Texas' third-straight 50-plus win season – the longest streak in program history.
Texas advances to the WCWS Championship Series for the third-straight year and the fourth time in the last five years.
Teagan Kavan set a new WCWS career high with 10 strikeouts in game two vs. Tennessee.
Kavan twirled her ninth double-digit strikeout performance of the year in game two with 10 punchouts.
Kavan registered her ninth win at the WCWS – the most in program history.
Kavan set a program record with her fifth career complete game shutout at the WCWS.
Stewart hit her 29th and 30th home runs vs. Tennessee.
Atwood launched her 19th home run of the season.
Texas outhit Tennessee at a 13-5 clip in game 1.
Three Longhorns manufactured three-hit performances in game 1 vs. Tennessee. Katie Stewart, Viviana Martinez and Kaiah Altmeyer each went 3-for-4 at the plate. Hannah Wells went 2-for-4 with a team-high two RBI.
In game two, Texas outhit Tennessee 7-4 led by Wells' two hits. Six different Longhorns notched a base hit.

Up Next

Texas will meet the winner between Alabama and Texas Tech in the WCWS Championship Series on June 3-5. Game 1 is set for 7 p.m. CT Wednesday, June 3, at Devon Park. All three games will broadcast ESPN.