Texas softball slides by Texas A&M 2-1, advances to regional final

A hard-fought battle for the 13-seed Texas softball saw this squad upend the rival Texas A&M Aggies to advance to the Austin Regional final this weekend. Texas downed the Aggies on May 20 by the final score of 2-1, thanks to some good work on the mound from freshman right-hander Citlaly Gutierrez and sophomore right-hander Sophia Simpson.

After an eight-run outburst that saw the Longhorns take down the Seton Hall Pirates in Game 1 of the Austin Regional on May 19, head coach Mike White’s offense was a lot quieter in Game 3 against Texas A&M.

Texas did get to Texas A&M starting pitcher Madison Preston for three hits and two runs (one earned) in the first two innings of the game. But Emiley Kennedy was able to shut down the Texas bats, with four solid innings of work on the mound while allowing just one hit and no runs.

Texas softball and Sophia Simpson slip past Texas A&M 2-1 in Austin Regional

The two runs that Texas scored in the bottom of the third inning were all the Longhorns needed, though, to get the job done against the Aggies in this game. Thanks to Gutierrez’s effort on the mound, giving the Longhorns five quality innings on the mound with just three hits and one earned run, Texas also kept the A&M bats quiet.

Simpson was able to come in relief of Gutierrez in the bottom of the sixth inning. She continued to clamp down on the Aggies hitters, pitching two no-hit innings while striking out three batters. Simpson was able to get her second save of the season, which was also the most clutch to date for the Longhorns.

It also helped the Longhorns that its defense was much cleaner than the Aggies. Texas A&M registered two errors on the afternoon, leading to one of the Texas runs in the bottom of the third. Meanwhile, Texas didn’t commit a single error in this game. In fact, Texas hasn’t committed a single error in the Austin Regional thus far.

Following the win over Texas A&M on May 20, Texas will take on the winner of Game 5 on May 21. Game 5 is set to take place on May 20, with the first pitch time set for 7 p.m. CT. That game will be between Texas A&M and the winner of Seton Hall and the Texas State Bobcats in Game 4, which is taking place as we speak on the evening of May 20.

The first game of the regional final (Game 6) will take place on May 21 at Red & Charline McCombs Field, with the first pitch time set for 1 p.m. CT. If Texas wins Game 6, it will move onto the Super Regionals next week. A loss for the Longhorns would mean a winner-take-all Game 7 at 3:30 p.m. CT on May 21.