Texas beats – Behind a complete game from Teagan Kavan and a two-run homer from Katie Stewart, No. 2 Texas beat No. 11 Texas Tech 7-3 in Game 1 of the 2026 Women’s College World Series championship series on Wednesday, June 3, at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
Texas struck early, kept answering every Texas Tech threat, and left the Longhorns one win from repeating as national champions after Game 1 of the 2026 Women’s College World Series championship series.
On Wednesday, June 3, at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, No. 2 Texas defeated No. 11 Texas Tech 7-3 behind a complete game from star pitcher Teagan Kavan and a two-run homer from slugger Katie Stewart. The loss handed Texas Tech a steep climb in a series that is a rematch of last season’s championship—when Texas took the title in three games and earned the first national championship in program history.
Stewart’s swing set the tone. Her two-run homer came after Texas Tech fell behind in the opening frames, with Texas Tech unable to recover from a five-run first inning. Viviana Martinez added two RBI for the Longhorns.
Kavan’s day was built for keeping the Red Raiders quiet. She retired the Texas Tech lineup in order, giving up three earned runs and striking out six batters across seven innings. Texas Tech’s starter, Kaitlyn Terry, took the loss after giving up four earned runs in 1 1/3 innings.
Texas also got a jolt from its bats at exactly the moments the game could tilt. In the bottom of the first inning. Katie Stewart crushed a Kaitlyn Terry pitch 263 feet to center field for a two-run home run that pulled Texas ahead 2-1. It was the start of a bigger outburst: Texas sent three more runs across the plate in the bottom of the first inning to take a 5-1 lead over Texas Tech. A Kaiah Altmeyer RBI single brought Reese Atwood home. and in the next at-bat. Ashton Maloney tripled to drive in two more runs.
In the top of the first inning, Texas Tech did strike—Mihyia Davis hit a solo homer off Kavan that traveled 238 feet to left field, her 10th homer of the season, putting the Red Raiders ahead 1-0. But the Longhorns’ response carried longer than a single inning.
Texas Tech managed a late push in the fifth when Mia Williams. Texas Tech’s offensive spark. hit her 27th homer of the season—a two-run shot in the fifth inning that cut Texas’ lead to 6-3. The run came with an exit velocity of 78.6 miles per hour off Williams’ bat. For Texas, though, the answer was fast.
After Texas Tech was held scoreless in the bottom of the fifth inning. Texas Tech still had a chance to narrow the gap further. Jackie Lis singled on a line drive that nearly cleared the outfield wall but ended at first. and Texas Tech failed to get a runner into scoring position. coming up empty handed as the Red Raiders trailed 6-3 and were down to their final three outs.
Texas added breathing room again in the late innings. In the final inning sequence. Viviana Martinez hit a sac fly to center field with one out and bases loaded to bring home Jaycie Nichols from third. increasing Texas’ lead to 7-3. The sac fly marked the second RBI of the night for Martinez, and it was the second run for Nichols.
Stewart’s power wasn’t a one-off either. Her homer was the catalyst of Texas’ five-run first inning, and it marked the fourth-consecutive game that Stewart has hit at least one home run.
The game also carried a procedural tension as it reached the stretch of play: questions emerged about whether a run rule could come into effect if Texas Tech couldn’t slow the Longhorns down. The rule does apply in the WCWS. provided a team has a lead of at least eight runs after five or more innings.
That concern hovered over Texas Tech’s choices on the mound. For the first time during the 2026 WCWS, Texas Tech turned to a pitcher other than NiJaree Canady or Kaitlyn Terry. With Texas staring at a four-run deficit. coach Gerry Glasco pulled Canady and put in Samantha Lincoln. a sophomore left-hander from Taunton. Massachusetts. Lincoln entered with a season record of 7-0 and a 3.43 ERA, with 66 strikeouts and 18 walks.
Texas Tech’s offense cooled after an early burst. After Mihyia Davis’ first-inning homer, the Red Raiders were held scoreless in back-to-back innings. Texas also posted a scoreless top of the second inning after Kaitlyn Terry hit by a pitch but didn’t advance past first.
The two teams will meet again on Thursday, June 4. A Texas win there would seal the Longhorns’ second NCAA title in as many years, turning a Game 1 statement into a championship finish.
For viewers, the stakes have been drawing more eyes to the sport. ESPN averaged 1.5 million viewers through 14 games for the Women’s College World Series games preceding the final series between Texas and Texas Tech. described as the most-watched pre-finals on record. Alabama vs. Texas Tech on June 1 hit a peak viewership of 2.4 million, and ESPN said overall viewership is up 33% year over year.
Game 1 is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 3 from Devon Park in Oklahoma City, and it aired on ESPN. Beth Mowins handled play-by-play, with Jessica Mendoza and Michele Smith as analysts, and Holly Rowe as the sideline reporter. Streaming options included the ESPN app (requiring a valid cable login) and Fubo. which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Texas will chase the repeat in Game 2 after opening the series with a 7-3 victory—one that made the margin feel less like a scoreline and more like momentum.
Texas vs Texas Tech 2026 Women’s College World Series WCWS Game 1 Teagan Kavan Katie Stewart Viviana Martinez Mia Williams Kaitlyn Terry Devon Park Oklahoma City NCAA softball championship series