Texas softball continued its assault on opposing pitchers in a 16-4 win over Michigan Saturday at McCombs Field. The Longhorns enter the final day of the NCAA Tournament Austin Regionals Sunday needing just one win to reach the super regionals for a sixth consecutive season. A day after tallying 15 hits and 10 runs in a win over Eastern Illinois, the top-seeded Longhorns (48-10) pounded out 14 hits and six home runs against
the Wolverines (39-20). Katie Stewart had two of the Longhorns' home runs, and Joley Mitchell had a grand slam as part of the Longhorns' nine-run fourth inning. Michigan will play either Central Florida or Eastern Illinois later Saturday, and the winner of that game will face Texas Sunday at noon. Read below for a replay and highlights from the noon game at
McCombs Field .
Texas vs Michigan softball score updates
A record-setting postseason showing by the Texas offense powers the Longhorns into Sunday without a loss in the Austin regionals. Texas will have two chances tomorrow to secure one win and a spot in the super regionals. Texas adds more mercy-rule insurance when Reese Atwood gets her fourth RBI of the game and ninth of the regionals with a sacrifice fly that scores Kayden Henry. A missed fly ball that gets lost in the sun gives Texas another run. Citlaly Gutierrez comes in for Teagan Kavan and handles business after the Wolverines add a run against Kavan. The book on Kavan: 3.1 innings, six hits, four runs (all earned), seven strikeouts and one walk. Joley Mitchell smashes a grand slam into the right-field bleachers for the Longhorns' fifth home run of the game, and Leighann Goode adds a solo homer. That's six home runs for Texas, one shy of its all-time record set in 2011 against Texas Tech. The six home runs is a school record for most homers in a NCAA Tournament game, breaking the previous record of five set against Texas A&M in 2016. Coach Mike White can start planning for tomorrow. Kaydee Bennett of all people gets in on the home-run derby for Texas. The No. 9 hitter pokes a 3-run shot over the right-field wall, and the Longhorns now have four homers on the day. And give it up for Kayden Henry for the hustle; she scores from second as first baseman Madi Ramey bobbles the ball at first. Wow, there's errors, and then there's Texas catcher Reese Atwood overthrowing first on a bunt by Indiana Langford with the infield shift on. No one is in right field, which means Langford motors home. Jenissa Conway follows with a more conventional run by blasting a solo shot over the left-center wall. The Wolverines with the quick answer. Back-to-back homers from Reese Atwood and Katie Stewart, and the power-packed heart of the Texas lineup has given the Longhorns a comfortable lead. With her 3-run shot, Atwood has eight RBIs in the regionals, and Stewart now has two homers in two at-bats. Three up, three down for the Wolverines. Texas starter Teagan Kavan seems to have settled in after having some issues in the first. Texas shortstop Katie Stewart leads off the frame with a massive shot over the left-field wall. The solo shot goes 269 feet, and Texas has evened things up. A walk and a single put two on with one out for Texas starter Teagan Kavan, and Lilly Vallimont makes her pay with an RBI single into left field. Like yesterday, Texas finds itself trailing early. Mia Scott drops a 2-out hit into left field, but Michigan starter Lauren Derkowski gets Reese Atwood to pop up. One hit, one left on for Texas, who's the designated visiting team. The winner of today's game will advance to the final round of the Austin regionals Sunday. The loser will have to play again later today against the winner of today's second game between Central Florida and Eastern Illinois. The NCAA Tournament regionals are a double-elimination format, with each team only eliminated after two losses.
Texas batting order
Michigan batting order
Texas coach Mike White turns to ace Teagan Kavan, who leads the team in almost every pitching category. The 6-foot sophomore has a 21-4 record, a 2.46 ERA and 188 strikeouts with 41 walks in 150.2 innings. Michigan will start Lauren Derkowski, who started yesterday's 4-3 win over Central Florida. Derkowski has a 17-12 record, a 2.62 ERA and 164 strikeouts with 71 walks in 184.2 innings.
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