OKLAHOMA CITY — Amidst a challenging personal time, Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan delivered a standout performance, leading her team to a 4-2 victory over Oklahoma, the reigning four-time national champions, in the Women’s College World Series on Saturday. Kavan, who was grappling with the recent passing of her 97-year-old grandmother, remained focused and chose to take the field rather than sit out.
Kavan shared the heartbreaking news of her grandmother, affectionately known as ‘Miney’, passing away earlier in the day with her teammates. She honors her grandmother by wearing the number 17 jersey, as a tribute to her grandmother’s birthdate, November 17, 1928. Despite the emotional weight, Kavan decided to play, emphasizing the need to enjoy the game.
The Longhorns benefited from solo home runs by Kayden Henry and Joley Mitchell, which provided the necessary run support needed to secure their win. Mitchell expressed her admiration for Kavan’s resilience, stating her dedication was inspiring during such a difficult time.
With this victory, Texas (53-11) progressed to the semifinals scheduled on Monday and stands one win away from making it to the championship series for the third time in four years. Meanwhile, Oklahoma (51-8) still has a chance to fight back in the tournament, facing Oregon in a Sunday elimination match.
In recent history, Oklahoma has been a formidable opponent for Texas, having defeated them in the championship series two out of the last three years and winning six consecutive games against them. On this occasion, Kavan turned the tables by allowing only one earned run, scattering seven hits, and striking out eight over seven innings.
Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso acknowledged the difficulty of the game for the Sooners, but praised Kavan’s effective pitching tactics that kept her team off-balance. Oklahoma’s pitcher, Sam Landry, took the loss, conceding three earned runs and eight hits in six innings. Nonetheless, Gasso is hopeful for a comeback in their upcoming game against Oregon.
Henry’s home run down the right field line gave Texas a narrow 3-2 lead in the fifth inning. Oklahoma made attempts to close the gap, managing to get a runner to third with two outs in the sixth, but failed to score. Mitchell’s timely home run in the bottom half of the inning extended the Longhorns’ lead to 4-2.
In a tense finale, Oklahoma sought to rally with runners on first and second with one out, but Kavan successfully struck out two batters, sealing the victory for Texas. Although Gasso credited Texas for their performance, she reaffirmed her belief that her team isn’t finished yet and is eager for their response in the upcoming match.