Texas softball gets record-breaking win in WCWS over No. 5 UCLA

In a thoroughly convincing fashion, unseeded Texas softball and head coach Mike White topped the red-hot five-seed UCLA Bruins in the first game of the Women’s College World Series on June 2. Texas surely started off their run at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, OK, this week with a bang with this big win over the Bruins.

The Longhorns got the best of the Bruins on June 2 by the final score of 7-2. Texas also never trailed in this game as they controlled it most of the way. This was actually the biggest margin of victory ever in the WCWS for the Longhorns softball program.

Texas rode the efforts of the All-American starting pitcher and senior Hailey Dolcini on the mound en route to one of the most clutch performances of her collegiate career to date. Dolcini pitched a complete game for the Longhorns while allowing just two earned runs, six hits, two walks, with two strikeouts.

This was a great way to start out the run in OKC for Dolcini and the Longhorns after largely shutting down one of the most potent offenses in the entire country.

Moreover, the Longhorns were also productive with the bats in the opening game of the Women’s College World Series. Led by the bats of Mia Scott and Mary Iakopo, the Longhorns were able to more than double up the hit total from the Bruins. Texas registered 13 hits as a team in this game, plating seven runs.

Hailey Dolcini and Mary Iakopo clutch for Texas softball in record-breaking win over UCLA

Scott was spotless at the plate for the Longhorns, coming up with four hits in four at-bats. She was also a home run away from completing the cycle as she did have a single, double, and triple in this game.

Meanwhile, one of the key home runs in this game for the Longhorns did come from Iakopo. She got her 50th career home run in this game, which notched her two runs batted in. Iakopo also came up with one walk and two hits total in this one.

This win over UCLA showed off a very well-rounded effort for Texas that continues to show the fight that this team brings to the table in the postseason. Texas just won’t go away as they keep upsetting teams as the continuous underdog.

Texas is now set to take on the winner of Game 2 of the WCWS, which is set to take place on June 4 at 2 p.m. CT. Game 2 will see the top-seeded Oklahoma Sooners take on the nine-seed Northwestern Wildcats on June 2, coming right after the conclusion of Texas-UCLA.

This now ensures at least two more games for Iakopo, Dolcini, and the Longhorns in OKC. It could also set up a very exciting Game 7 in the WCWS on the winner’s bracket side this coming weekend if Texas faces Oklahoma in a de facto postseason Red River Rivalry game.