Texas softball-Clemson updates, highlights: Longhorns force Game 3 in extra-innings win
Texas softball kept its season alive in a hard-fought win on Saturday to force a win-or-go-home Game 3 against Clemson in the Austin Super Regional.
Texas and Clemson were tied at 5-5 at the end of the seventh inning, forcing extra innings. The game extended to the 10th, until the Longhorns took a 7-5 lead in the top half of the frame after a pair of singles scored Katie Stewart and Leighann Goode.
Perhaps the story of the game, however, was ace Teagan Kavan, who was dominant in relief for the Longhorns. Kavan, who was tagged for five runs by Clemson on Thursday night, pitched 5 1/3 innings in relief, allowing no runs on four hits with seven strikeouts.
In a back-and-forth game, Texas prevailed despite a valiant effort from Clemson. The series-deciding game on Saturday is shaping up to be quite the matchup, with a Women's College World Series appearance on the line.
Here are the highlights from the Longhorns' 7-5 extra-innings win on Saturday:
Texas softball live score vs Clemson
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | F |
| Texas | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Clemson | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Texas wins 7-5, forces Game 3
Texas hangs on for the win, keeping its season alive and forcing a win-or-go-home Game 3 for a spot in the WCWS on Saturday. Buckle up.
Texas extends lead to 7-5
Ashton Maloney gets an infield single, which scores Leighann Goode from second base. The Longhorns take a 7-5 lead in the top of the 10th inning.
Texas takes 6-5 lead
Katie Stewart hits a leadoff single, and eventually makes her way to third base, then scoring on a sacrifice fly by Kaydee Bennett. Huge sequence for the Longhorns.
Teagan Kavan strikes out the side
Teagan Kavan has been nails for Texas, picking up her fifth, sixth and seventh strikeout in relief tonight. Texas and Clemson have gone four consecutive innings without scoring, as the Longhorns bats come up in the top of the 10th inning.
Clemson escapes 9th inning
The Tigers get a pop up to end the inning, setting up another chance for them to earn a walk-off win. Clemson needs one run to earn its first WCWS appearance.
Mia Scott with 2-out triple
There's some momentum for Texas, as Scott hits a two-out triple in the top of the ninth inning. The hit sets up a huge spot for Reese Atwood, but Atwood gets intentionally walked.
Josey Mitchell coming up to bat with Texas runners on first and third.
Clemson fumbles opportunity
Clemson had runners on second and third with no outs, needing one run to win, but Texas and ace Teagan Kavan get out of the inning after a strikeout, a lineout and a groundout.
Not ideal for the Tigers.
Clemson with runners on 2nd and 3rd
The Tigers kick off the bottom of the eighth with back-to-back singles, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Teagan Kavan's wild pitch then advances both runners, giving Clemson a golden opportunity here.
Texas goes down in order
Clemson sets down Texas in order and sets up another chance at a walk-off victory in the bottom of the eighth. Both teams are scoreless since the fifth inning.
Texas forces extra innings
Teagan Kavan puts up another zero, resulting in free softball at the Austin Super Regional. Texas and Clemson are tied at 5-5 heading into the top of the eighth.
Texas throws out leadoff hitter
What a play by Texas' Katie Stewart, who throws out Julia Knowler at second base after Knowler tried to extend her hit to the outfield into a double. The Longhorns keep Clemson from having a leadoff baserunner in scoring position.
Clemson with walk-off chance
Clemson puts up a zero in the top of the seventh inning and now looks to earn a walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh with the score tied at 5-5.
Can the Tigers take Game 2 and earn their first WCWS berth?
Teagan Kavan shuts the door
Teagan Kavan has been perfect in relief for Texas, with no hits or walks issued through 1 2/3 innings of work. Texas hitters coming up in the top of the seventh with the score still tied at 5-5.
Brooke McCubbin escapes 5th inning
Brooke McCubbin escapes the fifth inning after allowing a pair of Texas singles, striking out two hitters to end the inning. McCubbin was fired up after her inning-ending strikeout, letting out a yell with her teammates.
Texas turns to ace Teagan Kavan
Teagan Kavan, who started on Thursday night, is entering in relief for Texas as it looks to keep its season alive.
Clemson ties it, again
This game keeps going back and forth, as Clemson ties it at 5-5 on the solo home run by Macey Cintron. The ball is flying out of the park tonight.
Texas leads again
Joley Mitchell comes up huge, as she launches a two-run double that nearly gets out of the park. Texas regains the lead, taking a 5-4 advantage in the top of the fifth inning.
Clemson turns to Brooke McCubbin in relief
Reese Basinger's night ends after four innings, allowing three runs on five hits with no strikeouts. Brooke McCubbin has a 2.59 ERA in 132 1/3 innings this season and has typically come in relief during the postseason.
Texas escapes 4th inning
Citlaly Gutierrez forces a fly out on a 3-2 count to get the Longhorns out of the inning. Clemson did its damage, however, as it plated two runs to take a 4-3 lead heading into the fifth inning.
Texas walks in run
Sophia Simpson walks Maddie Moore, which gives Clemson a 4-3 lead. Simpson's night is over after walking two Tigers hitters, as Texas is turning to Citlaly Gutierrez with bases loaded.
Gutierrez pitched two innings and allowed a run on two hits on Thursday night.
Bases loaded for Clemson
Sophia Simpson issues a four-pitch walk to load the bases with two outs for Clemson. The Tigers' best hitter is up to bat, too, as Maddie Moore is looking to do some damage here after hitting a mammoth home run earlier in the game.
Texas turning to Sophia Simpson in relief
Senior right-hander Sophia Simpson, who has thrown only 4 2/3 innings this season, is coming in relief of Cambria Salmon. Salmon's night ends after 3 2/3 innings pitched, allowing six hits and three runs with two strikeouts.
Clemson ties it on single
Clemson 9-hole hitter Jamison Brockenbrough comes up big, driving in a run with two outs to tie the game at 3-3.
The Tigers started the bottom of the fourth inning with back-to-back leadoff singles, before Texas got two outs.
Texas regains lead
Texas regains the lead on a solo home run by Reese Atwood, who sneaks one just over the fence to give the Longhorns a 3-2 lead. Atwood's home run is the third of the game by both teams.
Maddie Moore ties it
Clemson's Maddie Moore absolutely crushes a pitch from Cambria Salmon to left-center field, tying the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third inning. Moore got every piece of that ball, and even delivered a bat flip after.
Cat Osterman in the building
Texas legend Cat Osterman, one of the best softball pitchers ever, is in the building for Texas-Clemson. She's currently in the booth being interviewed on the TV broadcast.
Cambria Salmon cruising
Texas coach Mike White's decision to start Cambria Salmon is paying off so far, as the true freshman has been nails through two innings so far. Meanwhile, Reese Basinger has also been solid despite the two-run home run.
Leighann Goode launches 2-run home run
Texas shortstop Leighann Goode launches a deep fly ball to left field, resulting in a 2-0 lead for the Longhorns.
Much better start for Texas than in Game 1.
Texas-Clemson scoreless through first
Cambria Salmon allows a two-out single to Clemson 3-hole hitter Julia Knowler but gets out of the inning unscathed.
Longhorns and Tigers are tied at zero through the first inning.
Basinger puts up a zero
Reese Basinger allows a leadoff hit to Ashton Maloney but sets down the next three Texas hitters. Clemson's 1-2-3 due up next in the bottom of the first inning.
Austin Super Regional is underway
Reese Basinger fires the first pitch for Clemson, and game two of the Austin Super Regional is underway. The Tigers are serving as the home team.
Clemson softball lineup
- 3B Alex Brown
- 2B Maddie Moore
- 1B Julia Knowler
- DP Macey Cintron
- C Aby Vieira
- SS Marian Collins
- RF Taylor Pipkins
- LF Kylee Johnson
- CF Jamison Brockenbrough
Reese Basinger in the circle.
Texas softball lineup
- RF Ashton Maloney
- CF Kayden Henry
- 3B Mia Scott
- C Reese Atwood
- 1B Josey Mitchell
- LF Katie Stewart
- SS Leighann Goode
- DP Vanessa Quiroga
- 2B Kaydee Bennett
Cambria Salmon in the circle.
Texas softball starting freshman in circle
Texas is giving the ball to freshman Cambria Salmon, after Teagan Kavan gave up five runs on Thursday night. Salmon has thrown 55 1/3 innings this season to a 2.02 ERA, and is making her first start since March 10.
Clemson softball win streak
Clemson hasn't lost since April 19, when it was upset by Boston College 5-2 at home. Since, the Tigers are 11-0, with wins over Texas, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Tennessee.
Clemson is playing its best softball at the right time and is looking for its first ever WCWS berth.
What time does Texas softball vs Clemson start?
- Date: Friday, May 23
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Where: Red & Charline McCombs Field (Austin, Texas)
Game 2 of the Austin Super Regional between the Longhorns and Tigers is scheduled for a 9 p.m. ET start.
What TV channel is Texas softball vs Clemson on today?
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)
Texas and Clemson's super regional game will air on ESPN2. Streaming options include the EPSN app (with a cable login), ESPN+, ESPN's subscription streaming service and Fubo, the last of which offers a free trial.