OKLAHOMA CITY — Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan threw a complete game while mourning the death of her 97-year-old grandmother, and the Longhorns defeated four-time reigning national champion Oklahoma 4-2 in the Women’s College World Series on Saturday.
Kavan told the team the woman the players knew as “Miney” died Saturday morning. Kavan wears No. 17 because her grandmother was born on Nov. 17, 1928.
Even with that on her mind, Kavan was able to focus and pull through. The 6-foot sophomore right-hander said she never considered sitting out.
“It’s not easy, obviously,” she said. “But I think what helped me is at the end of the day, it’s just a game. I think it put it into perspective. I’m just chucking a yellow ball, and people are running and turning left. And so I just wanted to have fun.”
Kayden Henry and Joley Mitchell hit solo home runs to provide run support for the Longhorns as they beat the border rival that joined them this season in moving from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference.
Mitchell was honored to offer support, emotionally and on the field.
“When Teagan told us this morning, it was honestly my worst nightmare,” Mitchell said. “I was scared that’s what it was when she texted us this morning. But she told us, the first thing she said (was) she’s good and she’s ready to go today. So Teagan Kavan is my hero today.”
A pair of elimination games Friday sent home No. 3 seed Florida and unseeded Ole Miss, two of the five SEC programs that were part of the eight-team field at this year’s WCWS. Saturday featured winners-bracket games only.
Sixth-seeded Texas (53-11) advanced to the semifinals Monday, when the Longhorns will need just one win to reach the best-of-three championship finals for the third time in four years. The program is seeking its first national title.
No. 2 Oklahoma (51-8) still has hope of a record-extending fifth straight title and its ninth overall, but the Sooners will be facing elimination when they play No. 16 Oregon (54-9) on Sunday. The Big Ten’s Ducks fought off elimination by beating Ole Miss 6-5 in 10 innings in a game that started late Friday night and finished early Saturday morning.
Oklahoma had defeated Texas in the WCWS finals two of the past three years and had won six straight games against the Longhorns overall.
Two of Kavan’s five losses this season were against the Sooners. On Saturday, she allowed just one earned run, scattered seven hits and struck out eight batters in seven innings to earn the win.
“Tough game for us, but I will say Kavan was throwing really, really well,” Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said. “Really well, and had us a little bit off balance.”
Oklahoma senior Sam Landry took the loss in the pitching circle. The right-hander from Texas gave up three earned runs and eight hits in six innings.
Ella Parker and Gabby Garcia each had two hits for the Sooners.
Henry’s solo shot down the right field line gave Texas a 3-2 lead in the fifth.
Oklahoma got a runner to third with two outs in the sixth but did not score. Mitchell’s solo blast to left-center field put the Longhorns up 4-2 in the bottom of the inning.
Oklahoma had runners on first and second with one out in the seventh while trying to extend the game, but Kavan struck out Garcia and Hannah Coor swinging to end it.
Gasso gave Texas credit, but she expects the Sooners to bounce back against Oregon.
“They’re definitely a team that can win this whole thing, I know that,” Gasso said of the Longhorns. “But we’re not done yet. And that’s what’s really exciting for me is, I just am really looking forward to seeing our response and rebound with this team.”