Tag: 2024 Women’s College World Series

A look back at the Texas Longhorns run through the softball postseason

Looking back at the Women’s College World Series with the best images for Texas.

It was an unfortunate ending for the Texas Longhorns softball season on Thursday night. After securing the No. 1 overall seed, they were swept by the Oklahoma Sooners in the Women’s College World Series championship final. Not a way you want to end the season but the team can hold their heads high after a record year.

The Longhorns, led by head coach Mike White, matched a school record with 55 wins. That mark was initially set in 2006 when Connie Clark led them to a 55-9 mark and secured a trip to the College World Series. That year Texas was bounced in the second round after losses to Arizona and UCLA.

Overall, the team can be proud of their regular-season Big 12 title led by top batter, Reese Atwood. She led the nation in home runs and RBIs. Standout freshman pitcher Teagan Kavan threw two one-hit shutouts to get the Longhorns to the championship final against their bitter rivals. In his sixth season with Texas, White coached the Horns to another Women’s College World Series and finished as the WCWS runner-up.

With the season coming to an end, here is a collection of the best photos from the postseason run.

Best photos from Oklahoma Sooners 8-3 win over the Texas Longhorns

The Oklahoma Sooners came out swinging in their game-one win over the Texas Longhorns. The Sooners collected three home runs and three doubles to power past the Longhorns to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

[autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] got things going with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning and Oklahoma got back-to-back home runs from [autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] and [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] in the third inning and never looked back.

[autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] threw another complete game, recording eight strikeouts. She allowed just four hits and four walks to arguably the best offense in the country.

Now the Sooners are just one win away from capturing their fourth-straight national championship. But the Texas Longhorns won’t go quietly into the Oklahoma City night. The Sooners will be challenged in game two tonight at 7:00 p.m. CT.

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners 8-3 win over the Texas Longhorns.

More: Social Media reacts to Oklahoma’s 8-3 win over Texas in WCWS

Oklahoma Sooners beat Texas Longhorns 8-3 in game one of WCWS Final

Sooners hit three home runs and Kelly Maxwell pitched another great game to lead Oklahoma to an 8-3 win over Texas in game one of the Women’s College World Series championship.

The Oklahoma Sooners got off to a hot start and never looked back in their game one matchup with the Texas Longhorns, taking the opener of the [autotag]Women’s College World Series[/autotag] championship 8-3.

[autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] picked up right where she left off on Monday when she threw 148 pitches over eight innings and threw another gem. Through five innings, the Texas Longhorns had only mustered one run, a solo shot in the first inning. Though Texas did some damage in the sixth, Maxwell allowed just one earned run in her complete game.

The Sooners got going offensively early in this one. Jayda Coleman was hit by a pitch, and [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] hit a two-run home run. It was the 98th home run of her career and 11th in the Women’s College World Series.

Texas cut the deficit in half on a Mia Scott home run to right field. Maxwell settled in to limit the damage and had a 1-2-3 second inning. And the Sooners rewarded her with some insurance in the top of the third.

[autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] led off the inning with a single, and with one out, Kinzie Hansen drove a 2-1 pitch to left-center field to give Oklahoma a 4-1 lead. True freshman [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] followed it up with a home run of her own to extend the lead to 5-1.

In the top of the fifth, the Sooners added to their lead when Hansen doubled, and Pickering forced an errant throw on a close play at first base, allowing Hansen to score to make it 6-1.

Pinch-hitting in the top of the sixth, [autotag]Alynah Torres[/autotag] was hit by a pitch, and [autotag]Avery Hodge[/autotag] was brought in to pinch run. Hodge took second on a wild pitch and then third base when Reese Atwood lost track of how many outs were in the inning and lobbed the ball up in the air. That became a huge moment in the inning as Jennings singled to bring Hodge in for the 7-1 lead.

Texas made things interesting in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs and threatened for more before Maxwell locked it down to limit the damage.

The Sooners went ahead 8-3 in the top of the seventh when [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag] doubled and then advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. Atwood got aggressive again and tried to pick Brito off at third base, but the ball hit the Sooners third basemen. Brito scored to extend the Sooners lead.

Maxwell locked in and earned a 1-2-3 inning, striking out the final two hitters, including a called strike three on Viviana Martinez to end the game. Maxwell earned the 23rd win of the season and put Oklahoma one win away from capturing their fourth-straight national title.

She allowed just one earned run on four hits and four walks and recorded eight strikeouts for the second straight day. It was another fantastic performance and the Sooners offense provided more run support against a really good Texas pitching staff.

Jennings led the way on her birthday with a 2-for-4 effort with three RBIs. Parker and Hansen each had two hits as well.

More: How to Watch Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns in the Women’s College World Series Championship

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How to watch the Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners WCWS championship final

Here is how you can tune in to watch Texas vs Oklahoma in the WCWS championship final.

The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners are looking to leaving the Big 12 on the grandest stage.

Both teams have the opportunity to win the WCWS national championship but only one team will reign supreme. Oklahoma has won three straight titles and is poised to be the first ever to win it four straight times. Texas on the other hand is seeking its first title and some redemption for the 2022 WCWS championship final when they were swept by their bitter rivals.

These teams got to this point different ways. Oklahoma knocked off Duke and UCLA before getting beat by Florida forcing a final game against the Gators to reach the championship finals.

Texas rode the hot hands or should we say arms of Teagan Kavan and Mac Morgan. Kavan pitched two shutouts against Stanford, outdueling the top pitcher in the nation, NiJaree Canady. Morgan threw a near no-hitter against Florida when the Horns beat them 10-0 in five innings. The staff for Texas has yet to give up a run in the Women’s College World Series. That streak will be tested against the three-time defending national champions.

Check out how you can tune in for this Red River Showdown in the Women’s College World Series Championship Final.

Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners Game 1 Details

  • Date: Wednesday, Jun. 5
  • Time: 7 pm CT
  • Location: OGE Energy Field at Devon Park in Oklahoma City
  • TV: ESPN
  • Radio: Texas Longhorns Radio Network
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)

Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners Game 2 Details

Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners Game 3 Details (If Necessary)

Best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners 6-5 extra-inning win over Florida

Best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners 6-5 walk-off win over the Florida Gators in extra innings.

The Oklahoma Sooners needed all the magic they could muster in their 6-5 extra-inning win over the Florida Gators.

True freshman [autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] had a huge day, going 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Her final RBI of the day tied the game at five after driving in [autotag]Avery Hodge[/autotag]. Hodge was 2-for-4 and had the double that set up Parker’s game-tying RBI. [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag], who hit just her second home run since April 16, came through with a two-run bomb to pull the Sooners within one.

And then it was [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] providing the extra-inning heroics with her walk-off home run. It was Coleman’s 13th home run of the season and the first time Oklahoma had a walk-off home run in the Women’s College World Series since 2016, according to ESPN.

And it was all the more possible because [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] rebounded from a sluggish start. Maxwell allowed five runs, all via home run, in the first three innings. She showed incredible toughness to then hold the Florida Gators scoreless over the final five innings.

Now, the Sooners move on to the championship series, where the Texas Longhorns await. Oklahoma’s looking for its fourth-straight national title.

Here’s a look at the best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners win over the Florida Gators in extra innings.

More: Social media reacts to Oklahoma Sooners walk-off win over the Florida Gators

Oklahoma Sooners beat Florida 6-5 on walk-off home run

The Oklahoma Sooners rallied to beat the Florida Gators 6-5 in extra innings on Jayda Coleman’s walk-off home run.

The Oklahoma Sooners and Florida Gators put on a power display in their semifinal elimination game, but it was the Oklahoma Sooners who came out on top 6-5 on a walk-off home run from [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] in the bottom of the eighth inning.

[autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] got the start for the Sooners and gave up two run home runs in the first and second inning and a solo shot in the third. But then she held the Gators scoreless for the remainder of the game to keep the Sooners in the game.

After the two-run homer allowed in the first, [autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] came through with a two-run bomb of her own to tie the game. Oklahoma didn’t score again until the fourth inning when [autotag]Cydney Sanders[/autotag] added her own two-run bomb to put the Sooners down one.

Despite opportunities in the fifth inning to tie the game, Oklahoma was held at bay and Maxwell continued to battle, keeping Florida from cashing in with runners on in the top of the sixth inning.

Then, in the bottom of the sixth, [autotag]Avery Hodge[/autotag] reached on a one-out double. Parker came up clutch again with an RBI single to tie the game.

Oklahoma had a chance to end it in the seventh after [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag]’s double, but the Sooners left her stranded.

Maxwell threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth and then Jayda Coleman came through with the heroics to lead off the bottom of the inning with a home run to end the game. The home run was Coleman’s 13th of the season and arguably the most important of her career.

Prior to Coleman’s walk-off home run, it was a day for Ella Parker and unsung heroes Avery Hodge and Cydney Sanders. But now the most decorated group of seniors in softball history has a chance to add another title to their already illustrious career.

It was a resilient effort for Maxwell, who recorded eight strikeouts in her eight innings of work. She battled throughout, showing off her veteran mettle and keeping the Sooners in the game. It was her 22nd win of the season.

Now, the Oklahoma Sooners move on to face the Texas Longhorns in the championship series. It’s a rematch of the series two years ago. The two sides split four games in 2024, with the Sooners winning in the Big 12 tournament championship.

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Oklahoma walks it off in WCWS semifinal, faces Texas in the championship series

Texas, Oklahoma for the national championship begins Wednesday.

The Texas Longhorns were waiting to find out who they would face in the best-of-three Women’s College World Series championship. On Tuesday afternoon they finally received their answer with the Oklahoma Sooners emerging from the WCWS semifinals. The Sooners walked it off 6-5 in the bottom of the eighth to return to the championship series.

After falling behind 5-2 after three innings, Oklahoma worked to start chipping away at the Florida lead. Keagan Rothrock gave up a two-run home run to Cydney Sanders in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to one. Finally in the bottom of the sixth, OU scored the tying run on a Ella Parker single to bring Avery Hodge into score.

After Florida failed to score in the top of the seventh, Oklahoma came to bat to try and finish this game off. With one out, Kasidi Pickering hit a double to right center to get into scoring position. Rylie Boone was walked on four pitches but that would be all they would get. Sanders would strike out on a riser and Hodge would flyout to left.

One inning later, senior Jayda Coleman goes opposite field with the walk-off home run to send Oklahoma to the championship finals against the Longhorns.

Red River Rivalry upgraded to the national championship level.

How to watch Texas vs Stanford in the Women’s College World Series

Here is when you should tune in to watch Texas vs Stanford.

On Monday the Texas Longhorns look to punch their ticket to the Women’s College World Series championship finals. All they have to do is beat Stanford again.

The Longhorns could get revenge for the 2022 Women’s College World Series when the Oklahoma Sooners swept Texas in. the best of three championship final.

Before Texas gets to the rematch, they must get through Stanford once again. The Horns will likely call on Teagan Kavan to pitch. She was stellar against the Cardinal in the opening game for Texas in the Women’s College World Series.

How to watch, listen, and stream Texas vs Stanford

BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK
  • Date: Monday Jun. 3
  • Time: 6 pm CT
  • Location: OGE Energy Field at Devon Park in Oklahoma City
  • TV: ESPN2
  • Radio: Texas Longhorns Radio Network
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)

Texas Longhorns vs Stanford Cardinal Series History

BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

For the second time since Thursday, Texas and Stanford will face off in the Women’s College World Series. The Horns got the better of NiJaree Canady en route to the 4-0 victory.

Overall, the series is tied 6-2.

Texas Longhorns team leaders

BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK
  • Batting Leader: Reese Atwood (.431)
  • Doubles Leader: Viviana Martinez (18)
  • Home Run Leader: Reese Atwood (23)
  • RBI Leader: Reese Atwood (90)
  • Wins: Teagan Kavan (19)
  • ERA: Citlaly Gutierrez (1.79)

Florida Gators team leaders

Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
  • Batting Leader: Emily Jones (.330)
  • Doubles Leader: Aly Kaneshiro (12)
  • Home Run Leader: Aly Kaneshiro, Ava Gall (11)
  • RBI Leader: Aly Kaneshiro (41)
  • Wins: NiJaree Canady (23)
  • ERA: NiJaree Canday (0.74)

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Best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners win over UCLA Bruins

The best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners thrilling win over UCLA 1-0 in the Women’s College World Series.

The Oklahoma Sooners moved on to the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series with a thrilling 1-0 win over the UCLA Bruins. [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag] threw a game for the ages, with 11 strikeouts over seven shutout innings.

[autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] provided the only offense the Sooners needed with a solo home run in the third inning. It was her 23rd of the season and fourth of the NCAA Tournament. In a game where the Sooners were able to get runners on base but couldn’t cash in, Jennings’ home run was just what the doctor ordered.

UCLA’s defense took away hits from [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag] and [autotag]Kasidi Pickering[/autotag] that likely would have gone for extra bases and scored runs. Instead, the Bruins kept the Sooners from pulling away.

But it didn’t matter as Maxwell was masterful throughout the game. Even when she did get in a little bit of trouble, she found a way to work out of the inning. She’d been great for the Sooners in 2024 but took her game to another level in the win over the Bruins.

“Kelly decided to throw one of the best games of her life today,” Gasso said. “There was no way we would be pulling her after the job she was doing.”

Maxwell was absolutely phenomenal in the win, stifling a UCLA offense that was red-hot coming into the game. The Sooners are now one win away from the championship series.

Here’s a look back at the Oklahoma Sooners win over UCLA in our latest photo gallery from the [autotag]Women’s College World Series[/autotag].

Oklahoma Sooners beat UCLA Bruins 1-0

Kelly Maxwell recorded a career high 11 strikeouts as the Oklahoma Sooners beat the UCLA Bruins 1-0 in the Women’s College World Series.

The No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners softball team came into a marquee matchup against fellow softball blue-blood UCLA after beating Duke on Thursday. Saturday’s game against the No. 6 Bruins was a much closer battle, but the Sooners moved on to the NCAA semifinals with a 1-0 win.

After a scoreless first two innings, OU struck first with a solo home run by [autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

It was Jennings’ 96th-career home run, which put her in third on the all-time list, passing former Sooner [autotag]Lauren Chamberlain[/autotag]. Jennings trails only Miami (OH)’s Karli Spaid and OU legend [autotag]Jocelyn Alo[/autotag].

The story of the rest of the game was Oklahoma’s [autotag]Kelly Maxwell[/autotag]. The pitcher shut down the Bruin offense with a career-high 11 strikeouts and pitched a gem of a shutout.

UCLA managed to get runners in scoring position in the third and sixth innings, but Maxwell’s career day turned the Bruins away at every turn. The top of the sixth inning, in particular, may have been Maxwell’s finest moment. With two on base for the Bruins, she forced a pop out and got a strikeout to thwart the UCLA threat.

Maxwell faced UCLA’s All-American Maya Brady four times on the afternoon and got the better of Brady each time. The first three were strikeouts before forcing a groundout that ended the game in the top of the seventh.

The Bruins will face Stanford in an elimination game on Sunday night, while the Sooners will wait until Monday for their next game.

[autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag]’s team is one win away from the championship series, and their next game will come against either Alabama or the loser of Saturday night’s Florida–Texas game.

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