AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a hiccup to start the series, the No. 1 Texas softball team claimed a series win 2-1 over the Houston Cougars following an 8-6 victory Sunday in Houston.
Following Oklahoma’s loss to Louisiana last week, the Longhorns jumped the Sooners in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 rankings by a point to claim the top spot. After the Longhorns beat UT Arlington 8-1 in their first game as the top-ranked team in the country, they lost the second game to Houston 12-10 in the series opener Friday.
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However, Texas bounced back and won the second game Saturday 9-2 then followed it up with Sunday’s win.
On Sunday, the Longhorns scored two runs in the top of the seventh to break a 6-6 tie and then hung on for the win. Alyssa Washington drove in Leighann Goode with a double for the Longhorns’ first run of the frame then Katie Cimusz hit a sacrifice fly to plate Washington. Freshman pitcher Teagan Kavan pitched the final two innings in relief to earn credit for the win, upping her record to 10-0 on the year.
Joley Mitchell hit a 3-run home run for Texas in the fifth inning to give the Longhorns a 6-2 lead, but then Houston answered with four runs in the sixth to tie the game.
Ashton Maloney, Kayden Henry, Mia Scott and Mitchell each had two hits for the Longhorns.
Texas (21-1, 2-1 Big 12) moves from Houston over to Baton Rouge for a big matchup with No. 3 Louisiana State on Tuesday. The Longhorns return home for Big 12 play against BYU, starting a 3-game series Thursday.