Right away, it looked like Texas star pitcher Teagan Kavan wouldn't have what it took for the Longhorns to defeat the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Women's College World Series.
In the first inning, Kavan gave up a home run to put the Huskers up 0-1, and just like that, the Horns were down a run in a game that could have ended their season.
Then, Kavan stepped up to the plate, literally, and held Nebraska scoreless over the next five innings, and during the bottom of the sixth inning, in what could have been Texas's second-to-last inning for at-bats, things started clicking.
Jaycie Nichols singled to shortstop, Kayden Henry singled up the right, and then, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, Katie Stewart hit a booming home run to put the Longhorns up 3-1.
Kavan closed out the game with an incredible seventh inning performance, and suddenly, instead of their hopes of defending the National Championship ending, the Longhorns were still dancing, and it's the Cornhuskers who were headed home.
Longhorns get a shot at revenge against the Volunteers
Now, Texas will face the Tennessee Volunteers in yet another possible elimination game for the Horns.
Just a couple of days ago, the Vols defeated the Longhorns, sending the defending National Champions to the losers' bracket. However, Texas now gets a chance to exact revenge on the team that made their run back to the WCWS final a step more difficult.
Since the loss to Tennessee, Texas hasn't looked back, shutting out the Mississippi State Bulldogs 4-0 and then earning the 3-1 win over Nebraska.
Kavan didn't have her best stuff against the Volunteers, but it shouldn't come as a surprise if head coach Mike White opts to keep his go-to pitcher in the circle against Tennessee on this go-around.
Also read: Texas can enjoy the WCWS even more with things going south for Patty Gasso and OU
On Sunday, June 1, the Horns and the Vols will face each other at 11 a.m. CT to determine who will head to the Finals and who will head home. If Texas wins, the two SEC teams will play a second game at 1:30 p.m., at the earliest, since Tennessee has yet to suffer a WCWS loss.
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