After No. 23/RV Auburn went up two runs in the first inning and no response from Texas, fans in burnt orange were fearful that Sunday’s final game of the series could be a copy of Saturday’s nail biter.
Texas, however, had other plans. The two-run homer was the first and last time the Tigers would score, and Texas went on to dominate the game, winning 13–2 in five innings.
The Longhorns cleaned up Saturday’s defensive errors and sophomore pitcher Teagan Kavan, in the circle the entire game, was critical in helping the defense off the field. After allowing the two-run homer, it was a lights-out performance by her, retiring the next six consecutive batters. Kavan won the pitching battle 14–1, threw 10 strikeouts and only allowed two hits.
After a three-and-out in the top of the second, the Longhorns’ batting came out with a sense of urgency after getting off to a slow start the day before. Texas started scoring and just couldn’t stop, scoring nine runs in the bottom of the second inning, going up 9–2.
“The goal for the weekend was to end Sunday with three more wins and stay near the top in the race for the league championship,” head coach Mike White said. “I thought the team played really well over the weekend; offensively, for sure, without a doubt. And Kavan earning three wins was stellar for us.”
With the bases constantly loaded and the Tigers defense struggling to get an out, Texas scored off of a walk by junior utility Leighann Goode, a sacrifice fly by redshirt junior outfielder Ashton Maloney to tie the game and three singles in the second. In fashion with yesterday’s game-winning dinger, sophomore infielder Katie Stewart hit an explosive three-run homer to send her, graduate infielder Joley Mitchell and junior catcher Reese Atwood home.
“I think Stewart’s performance was the most impressive thing I saw today,” White said. “With her walk-off home run yesterday and then continued her home run streak today, it’s great to see her get back to form.”
Texas tacked on another run in the bottom of the third via a single to the left by sophomore outfielder Kayden Henry that saw Maloney score, before scoring three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. With singles by Stewart and junior utility Rachel Wells, as well as a sacrifice fly by senior utility Vanessa Quiroga, Texas extended the deficit to 11 runs. By the end of the inning, the Longhorns offense had tied their program-high for most runs in a Southeastern Conference game.
The Tigers attempted to get their bats going, but could only put together just a single hit in the top of the fourth, which followed another three-and-out inning in the top of the third.
Texas will look to extend their undefeated record at home as the team takes on Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday.
