KNOXVILLE — Texas’ bid to get back to the NCAA Women's College World Series was ended Saturday by Tennessee.

The Longhorns (45-15-1), who were national runners-up to Oklahoma last year, were no-hit through five innings. They couldn’t generate much offense at all in a 9-0 loss to the Lady Volunteers (49-8) in the Knoxville Super Regional. Texas dropped Friday's first game 5-2.

Tennessee led 1-0 through five innings before the wheels came off for Texas. The super regional sweep sent the Lady Vols to Oklahoma City for the first time since 2015. Payton Gottshall was dominant through five and solid over the final two frames. The Tennessee hurler allowed just four baserunners — two hits and two walks.

“It’s always tough to finish out a year, especially when you commit five errors and give up nine runs,” Texas coach Mike White said.

White and his players took solace in the fact that the Longhorns have just one senior on the roster and none in the starting lineup.

“We’ve got a lot to build on,” he said. “But the loss still stings.”

Tennessee leadoff hitter Kiki Milloy started the game with a double, then went to third on a throwing error. She scored when the next hitter, Zaida Puni, grounded into a fielder’s choice.

That lead stood up for five innings thanks to Gottshall’s performance, as well as a solid showing from Longhorns starter Citlaly Gutierrez.

“(Gottshall) spins it well, there’s not too much thrown across the plate,” White said. “I’m disappointed in our hitters. We’re better than that. It was just not our day.”

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With two on and two out in the sixth, a single by Destiny Rodriguez and a Texas throwing error gave Tennessee a 3-0 lead. That set the stage for a seventh inning when seven hits and two errors allowed the Lady Vols to score six runs.

The major miscue happened with the bases loaded. Guilia Koutsoyanopulos singled to right. The ball rolled past right fielder Ashton Maloney all the way to the wall. And an error on the relay throw allowed Koutsoyanopulos to score.

“I’m not sure what went right in that inning,” White said. “We couldn’t make a play. There were players hanging their heads. You can never give up. We have a lot to talk about (in season-ending meetings). I never ever want to see the happen again.”

Everything White will evaluate will come within the context of a young team earning its stripes.

“We can use what just happened as motivation for the offseason,” White said. “We were right there at the end of last year. We had a big turnover in leadership. I believe that everything happens for a reason. This will turn out to be a great learning experience for us. There are positives to take away from this.”

Said Tennessee coach Karen Weekly: “This was not a 9-0 game. It was a lot closer. Texas has some extremely good young talent. They will be around for a long time.”

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas softball loses to Tennessee as its season ends in Knoxville