Head coach Mike White isn’t using Texas softball’s roster depth as an excuse to rest on his laurels.
In five games at the UTSA Invitational, five freshmen saw the field, with four getting their first collegiate starts. Out of all the rookies, freshman infielder Jaycie Nichols was the most constant presence in the batting order, registering nine at-bats with four hits and three runs.
While the same veteran players stayed in the outfield all weekend, the infield didn’t see the same consistency. Freshmen and veterans were playing a myriad of different positions, and substitutions were consistently used by White.
“Get them being comfortable being uncomfortable,” White said. “We found out from last year that anything can happen at any time, with (junior infielder Viviana Martinez) going down, and we weren’t really prepared for that.”
Texas has found strength in letting certain players develop in different positions, giving the team options if a sudden injury were to leave a player sitting on the bench.
Senior catcher Reese Atwood started in all five games, but found herself as a designated hitter, catcher and first baseman. Junior catcher and infielder Katie Stewart was swapped multiple times over the weekend from catcher to first baseman.
“I’ve bounced around a lot since freshman year, so I’ve grown to playing (in) any position that they put me (in),” Stewart said. “I’m honestly grateful to be back at first base and to know that my teammates put their trust in me.”
Stewart was successful at first base, recording 10 putouts in the game against Nebraska on Saturday, the highest of any position all weekend. On top of her defensive skills, she had four runs and 17 at-bats, driving in six RBIs.
The freshmen saw quite a bit of action this week. Freshman infielder MaTaia Lawson had four starts in the batting lineup, recording two runs in her very first game at the collegiate level. Shortstop saw three people try their hand at the position: Martinez, Crabtree and Nichols.
Martinez sat out the 2025 season with a knee injury, and while her game as an athlete didn’t develop, her leadership abilities did. She’s watched multiple people fill in her position over the past year, and she said she has full confidence in the infielders, new and returning, to support every player on the field mentally and physically.
“One of the biggest things is always uplifting (the pitchers) throughout the game and making sure they’re talking back to us and being present and not going through a roller coaster in their head,” Martinez said,
Some of White’s chances did not pay off. Freshman pitcher and utility Hannah Wells gave up seven earned runs in the second game against No. 9 Nebraska, handing Texas its first loss of the season. Even so, Wells bounced back, pitching a shutout against UTSA that ended in a mercy rule.
Texas takes on four unranked teams this weekend, starting Thursday against Abilene Christian University. White will continue to develop the roster and increase depth ahead of conference play starting in March.
