Texas softball drops Game 1 in Super Regional to No. 4 Tennessee

Despite a late-inning rally in the Knoxville Super Regional on May 26, No. 13 Texas softball and head coach Mike White ultimately wound up falling short of the No. 4 Tennessee Lady Volunteers by a score of 5-2. Texas and starting pitcher Mac Morgan found themselves behind the eight ball early in this game, falling behind by a score of 4-0 in the bottom of the second inning.

Tennessee put up four runs in the bottom of the second inning on the Longhorns, three of which came via a three-run shot to left field from third baseman Zaida Puni.

Texas kept the game very competitive from that point forward, mustering two runs to Tennessee’s one. But it wasn’t enough for the Longhorns to get the necessary comeback to tie it up with the Lady Vols in Game 1 of the Knoxville Super Regional.

Morgan pitched four solid innings on the mound for the Longhorns in this game against Tennessee. It was just the aforementioned second inning that got to her for four earned runs, namely off that three-run shot to left.

Otherwise, Morgan had a solid outing on the mound, striking out one Tennessee batter and only walking one.

Estelle Czech was also solid on the mound for the Longhorns, giving the Burnt Orange two shutout innings on the mound in relief of Morgan in the bottom of the sixth.

Mac Morgan and No. 13 Texas softball fall to No. 4 Tennessee in Game 1 of supers

Moreover, Texas was able to match Tennessee’s hit total in this game. Each team had seven hits, including two from center fielder Bella Dayton. Texas just wasn’t able to pile up the hits at the right time as the Lady Vols did.

The good news is that the Longhorns were able to stay very competitive with Tennessee most of the way in Game 1 of supers. Texas will be facing elimination from here on out in the Knoxville Super Regional, but it’s clear that Game 2 could be a hard-fought battle on May 27.

Game 2 of the Knoxville Super Regional between No. 13 Texas and No. 4 Tennessee is set to take place on May 27, with the first pitch time at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on ABC, which will be the first time that a college softball super regionals game is televised on one of the big cable news channels (i.e. ABC, CBS, and/or NBC).

If Texas can pull out the win over Tennessee on May 27, it will send the Knoxville Super Regional to a Game 3. The final game of the Knoxville Super Regional (if necessary) will take place on May 28, with the first pitch time to be determined.