Texas Softball Dominates Florida, Advances Closer to Championship Finals Berth
The Bats Came Alive Early for Texas, Notching Five Runs in the First and Forcing One of the Nation’s Best out of the Game.
Texas Longhorns softball lived up to their No. 1 seed status on Saturday, dominating the No. 4 seeded Florida Gators with a 10-0 run-rule victory.
Despite the lopsided final score, this matchup was one of the most anticipated of the entire Women’s College World Series (WCWS). Florida entered the game after a 1-0 win over No. 5 Oklahoma State on Thursday. Star pitcher Keagan Rothrock had been exceptional, throwing a two-hit complete game shutout against the Cowgirls, and entering the contest having thrown more pitches than any pitcher in the nation.
The Longhorns and their starting pitcher Mac Morgan faced a significant challenge, but it was evident from the first inning that Texas was on a different level than the Gators.
Texas Longhorns Softball heads to WCWS.mp4
After just four batters, Florida’s head coach Tim Walton had to talk with his star pitcher. With one run already in, two runners on, and only one out, Rothrock had given up more runs in 13 pitches than she had in seven innings on Thursday.
Freshman first baseman Katie Stewart, who had been quiet in Texas’ 4-0 win against Stanford, stepped up and swung at the first pitch, launching it to deep center field over the head of Florida’s leadoff hitter Kendra Falby. Two runs scored, and with Stewart on second base, Walton made the tough decision to pull Rothrock. Five batters in, one-third of an inning, and down by three runs, one of the SEC’s best pitchers was driven from the game by the Longhorns.
With freshman reliever Ava Brown stepping in, Texas already seemed in command. Second baseman Alyssa Washington was next at bat, and with momentum on her side, she was ready to extend the lead. In a two-strike count, Washington hit a home run to left-center, putting Texas up 5-0 in the first inning.
Jun 1, 2024; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Texas Longhorns infielder Alyssa Washington (11) rounds second after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning against the Florida Gators during a Women’s College World Series softball winners bracket game at Devon Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 1, 2024; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Texas Longhorns infielder Alyssa Washington (11) rounds second after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning against the Florida Gators during a Women’s College World Series softball winners bracket game at Devon Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports / Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Four hits and five runs later, Texas looked every bit the top team in the nation.
From there, it was all Mac Morgan. The junior delivered another stellar postseason performance for Texas, throwing a complete game shutout that ended early due to the 10-run mercy rule in the fifth inning. Morgan has allowed just one run in her last three appearances and on Saturday, she recorded five strikeouts, her highest since her first start of the year. Florida’s only hit came in the fifth inning but was quickly erased by a 6-4-3 double play.
After the explosive first inning, Texas’s offense went quiet in the second and third innings but sealed the win in the fourth. With two outs, third baseman Mia Scott hit a solo home run to center. The floodgates then opened, with Stewart hitting a two-run homer and a combination of small ball and pinch-hitter contributions bringing in five total runs for the inning. Texas stunned Florida, going up 10-0.
Stewart finished the night with two extra-base hits and four RBIs, while Washington added three more RBIs. Texas ended the game with 10 runs on 10 hits, striking out just once and extending their opponent scoreless streak to 12 innings over two WCWS games.
Texas will have a good amount of rest before their next game on Monday, June 3rd, against the winner of Stanford vs. UCLA. The Longhorns are now one win away from the Championship Finals and are playing their best softball of the year.
