Texas powers past Tennessee to force winner-take-all WCWS semifinal

Field Level Media|published: Mon 1st June, 15:03 2026

Texas Longhorns starting pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez (77) throws a pitch during a Women's College World Series softball game between the University of Texas Longhorns and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 1, 2026.

Citlaly Gutierrez worked into the seventh inning and Texas had 13 hits, lifting the Longhorns to a 5-2 win over Tennessee in the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.

Texas' win forces the "if necessary" game between the two teams later Monday afternoon for a berth in the WCWS Championship Series.

The Vols trailed 5-1 entering the bottom of the seventh but finally got to Gutierrez, starting the inning with Makenzie Butt's single.

Tennessee loaded the bases with one out thanks to a walk and an error, then pulled within three runs on Emma Clarke's two-out infield single.

The Longhorns then brought on ace Teagan Kavan to finish it off, with Kavan striking out Elsa Morrison looking to finish off the game.

Texas opened the scoring on Reese Atwood's leadoff homer in the fourth, with Tennessee tying it in the bottom half.

The home run was Atwood's first career WCWS home run in her third appearance.

Katie Stewart broke the tie with a home run in the fifth, then the Longhorns extended the lead to 4-1 on Hannah Wells' two-run single later in the inning.

Texas added another in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Ashton Maloney.

Gutierrez held the Vols to five hits and walked two while striking out three.

Stewart, Viviana Martinez and Kaiah Altmeyer each went 3-for-4 for Texas.

--Field Level Media

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