OKLAHOMA CITY (TVC) – The Tennessee Lady Vols will play a double header, winner-take-all Game 2 matchup against the Texas Longhorns, following a 5-2 loss Monday afternoon. The winner of the game will advance to the Women’s College World Series championship series.
It was a close game, with the pitchers’ dueling throughout the first three innings. But Texas scored first, following a home run from Reese Atwood in the top of the fourth inning. Tennessee would then answer with an RBI triple from Gabby Leach to score Ella Dodge in the bottom of the fourth inning, to tie the game 1-1.
The Longhorns wasted no time responding with a home run from Katie Stewart in the top of the fifth inning followed by a two-run RBI double from Hannah Wells in the fifth inning to make it 4-1 Texas. Wells would later come around to score a run in the seventh inning, making the score 5-1.
In the seventh inning, the Lady Vols loaded up the bases with Clarke hitting an RBI single to drive in Makenzie Butt, cutting the deficit to 5-2. Although the bases remained loaded throughout the remainder of the innings, Tennessee could not make a comeback and forced a Game 2.
Citlaly Gutierrez got the start in the circle for Texas, holding Tennessee to only five hits and two runs. In the seventh inning, Tegan Kavan came in to relieve Gutierrez and recorded the final out of the game.
Erin Nuwer started for the Lady Vols, pitching two innings before handing the ball to Sage Mardjetko, who gave up four runs to Texas. In the fifth inning, the ball was handed back to Nuwer, who would finish out the game after Mardjetko pitched two innings.
Mardjetko previously started against the Texas Longhorns in the WCWS Thursday. Texas knew Monday what to expect when Mardjetko came in, jumping all over her pitches, a couple going out of the ballpark.
A downside of the game on both sides was errors, as the teams combined for five errors. Texas recorded four errors, and Tennessee recorded one. These errors were prominent throughout the game’s early innings.
After a dominant defensive day from Tennessee on Saturday, the defense struggled to find their rhythm early Monday, proving to be costly in this game.
Both teams have saved their aces, who will be expected to come in and pitch in game two. Tegan Kavan only faced one Tennessee batter in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 1 while Karlyn Pickens did not pitch at all in game one.
A Tennessee victory would advance them to the championship series for the first time since 2013, but a loss would end their 2026 season. Game two of the semifinals is set for 2:17 CDT Monday.
