What channel is Texas-Eastern Illinois softball? How to watch NCAA tournament game
Texas softball's path back to the Women's College World Series once again starts at home.
Coming off an exit in the semifinals of the SEC tournament last weekend, No. 6 national seed Texas returns to play in the NCAA softball tournament on Friday. There, the Longhorns will take on Eastern Illinois in Game 1 of the Austin Regional of 4:30 p.m. ET.
Stream Texas vs. Eastern Illinois softball live with ESPN+
Mike White's squad enters this year's postseason on a seven-game win streak in the regional round of the NCAA softball tournament. His teams have made it out of the opening round in 15 consecutive seasons.
The Longhorns are led in the circle once again by sophomore pitcher Teagan Kavan, while star catcher Reese Atwood headlines the Texas offense with Mia Scott. Kavan enters Friday's game with a 21-4 record and 2.48 ERA, while Atwood and Scott bring in 124 combined RBIs and batting averages over .400 each on the season.
Eastern Illinois defeated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the Ohio Valley Conference championship game for their second-ever ticket to the NCAA softball tournament.
The winner of Friday's game will face the winner of UCF and Michigan on Saturday, May 17 at 1 p.m. ET. The Longhorns are looking to make their fifth consecutive trip to the super regional round of the NCAA softball tournament, while the Panthers are looking for their first-ever postseason win.
Here's what to know about Friday's regional game between Texas and Eastern Illinois, including start time and how to watch information:
What channel is Texas vs Eastern Illinois softball on today?
- Streaming option: ESPN+
Friday's meeting between Texas and Eastern Illinois will not be broadcast on linear TV. Instead, it will be exclusively streamed on ESPN+, ESPN's subscription streaming service.
Texas vs Eastern Illinois softball time today
- Date: Friday, May 16
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Red & Charline McCombs Field (Austin, Texas)
Texas and Eastern Illinois are scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, May 16 from Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin, Texas, in the opening game of the Austin Regional of the NCAA softball tournament.
Texas softball schedule 2025
Below are Texas' last five results. To view the Longhorns' full 2025 schedule, click here.
- Thursday, May 1: Texas 9, Kentucky 1 (5 Inn.)
- Friday, May 2: Texas 7, Kentucky 6
- Saturday, May 3: Texas 12, Kentucky 3 (5 Inn.)
- Thursday, May 8: Texas 7, No. 18 Ole Miss 6 (SEC tournament)
- Friday, May 9: No. 1 Texas A&M 14, Texas 2 (5 Inn.) (SEC tournament)
Eastern Illinois softball schedule 2025
Below are Eastern Illinois' last five results. To view the Panthers' full 2025 schedule, click here.
- Sunday, May 4: Eastern Illinois 11, Western Illinois 1 (5 Inn.)
- Thursday, May 8: Eastern Illinois 4, Southern Indiana 1 (Ohio Valley Conference tournament)
- Friday, May 9: Eastern Illinois 5, SIUE 4 (Final 10 Innings, Ohio Valley Conference tournament)
- Saturday, May 10: SIUE 4, Eastern Illinois 3 (Ohio Valley Conference tournament)
- Saturday, May 10: Eastern Illinois 1, SIUE 0 (Final 8 Innings, Ohio Valley Conference tournament)