OKLAHOMA CITY — Teagan Kavan pitched a one-hitter and No. 1 seed Texas defeated Stanford 4-0 on Thursday in the Women's College World Series opener for both teams.
Kavan, a freshman, struck out eight and walked four in seven innings.
“Adversity creates opportunities,” Texas coach Mike White said. “Teagan has come out on top. Every time he comes out, I think he gets stronger.”
Now White has a pitcher who has learned to handle the pressure on the big stage.
“If you don't have nerves, you're not shooting, getting ready to go play,” he said. “She's been able to channel those things into energy and control them. I just like that growth. I'm excited to see how she does in the rest of the tournament.”
Kayden Henry had two hits and scored a run for the Longhorns (53-8).
Kavan won the pitching matchup against Stanford's NiJaree Canady, the USA Collegiate Softball Player of the Year. Canady allowed four runs on five hits and struck out five in six innings. He had a wild pitch and walked four.
“Yeah, this is not my best game,” Canady said. “Too many walks, too many wild pitches. I'm just looking to get better tomorrow.”
Ava Gall had the only hit for Stanford, the eighth seed (48-16).
Texas will play No. 4 Florida on Saturday, and the winner of that game will advance to the semifinals. Stanford faces Oklahoma State on Friday in an elimination game. The event has a double-elimination bracket format before moving on to the best-of-three championship series.
It was the second year in a row that Canady was stuck facing the No. 1 team and the best hitting team in the country in her team's first World Series game. She lost to Oklahoma 2-0 in last season's opener.
There is hope for the Cardinal. With Canady at the helm, they reached the semifinals last year after losing their first match.
Three-time defending champion Oklahoma opens with 9-1 win over Duke
Oklahoma is underway in its quest for an unprecedented fourth consecutive national championship.
Kinzie Hansen homered and drove in three runs, and the Sooners defeated Duke 9-1 in six innings on Thursday in the Women's College World Series opener for both teams.
Hansen, Jayda Coleman and Alyssa Brito each had two hits for the second-seeded Sooners (55-6).
“What a great game for the Sooners,” Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said. “It's a really big deal to try to get that first win. We really prepared for Duke because they're a really good team. I have immense respect for them, their coaching staff and what they've done to get here. They've always been at the top.” “
Kierston Deal pitched 2⅓ innings of scoreless relief to earn Oklahoma the victory.
Cassidy Curd, who earned both wins against Missouri in the super regionals, started and allowed one run on three hits in two innings. Jala Wright, a second-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American, allowed five runs and four hits in one inning and took the loss.
The 10th-seeded Blue Devils (52-8) made their first World Series appearance in school history under coach Marissa Young. Pitching (the Blue Devils' strength throughout the season) prevented them from having the debut they wanted.
“I love our staff,” Young said. “Obviously, they've done a phenomenal job all year. It's hard to see them not do the job today in this setting… They learn from it. They know what they're capable of. When you leave balls on the plate for a team like Oklahoma, “They're going to make you pay.”
Oklahoma will play No. 6 seed UCLA on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the semifinals. UCLA has the most World Series championships with 12 and Oklahoma is third with seven. UCLA beat Oklahoma in the 2019 championship series.
Duke will play No. 14 Alabama in an elimination game on Friday.
Kistler's solo homer, Rothrock's two-hitter lead Florida over Oklahoma State
Katie Kistler hit a solo home run for the game's only run and Keagan Rothrock pitched a two-hitter as No. 4 seed Florida defeated No. 5 Oklahoma State 1-0 on Thursday night in the Series opener. Women's University World Cup for both teams.
“What a great game,” Florida coach Tim Walton said. “It's kind of a good old-fashioned softball game. Something we haven't seen in a long time.”
Rothrock, a freshman, struck out three and walked two. He threw just 94 pitches to take the victory for the Gators (52-13). It was her 31st victory of the season, which ties her for the national lead.
Oklahoma State's Lexi Kilfoyl, a first-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American and top-three finalist for USA College Softball Player of the Year, took the loss. She allowed just two hits and struck out five in six innings. It was just her fourth loss in 30 decisions this season.
“I really thought it was a good softball game,” Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski said. “We just found ourselves on the wrong side. They took the big hit. It felt like a dogfight from the beginning. I thought both pitchers were extremely sharp.”
Kilfoyl took a no-hitter into the fifth before Kistler's explosion. Kistler immediately raised his right arm and pointed his index finger to the sky after connecting. It was just his fifth home run of the season.
“All I felt was pure joy watching my teammates, all jumping up and down,” Kistler said. “I was happy to do it for my team and for Keagan too, throwing his butt in that game.”
Woolery's 3-run homer puts UCLA over Alabama 4-1 in opener
The Jordan Woolery moment was so big I could barely remember it.
Her three-run homer in the sixth inning lifted No. 6 UCLA to a 4-1 victory over No. 14 Alabama on Thursday in the Women's College World Series opener for both teams.
“I think I passed out after I hit him,” Woolery said. “Honestly, I don't remember.”
Woolery's blast against Alabama's Kayla Beaver came with two outs and broke a 1-1 tie.
Taylor Tinsley got the win for UCLA in three scoreless innings of relief. She replaced Kaitlyn Terry, who allowed one run and four hits in four innings.
Maya Brady had two hits for UCLA, which won its 14th straight. The Bruins (43-10) haven't lost since April 27.
Beaver went the distance and allowed four runs and four hits in six innings for Alabama (38-19).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
