Replay: No. 1 Texas softball beats Northwestern to improve to 2-0 in NCAA softball tournament
After leaning on pitcher Mac Morgan to beat Siena in its NCAA Tournament opener Friday, the Texas softball team secured its second win in the Austin Regional Saturday against Northwestern.
More: No. 1 Texas softball leaning on deep pitching staff to make its NCAA Tournament run
Final: Texas 14, Northwestern 2
Top-seeded Texas matched its efficiency with plenty of explosiveness while cruising into the final day of the NCAA Tournament's Austin Regionals with a 2-0 record. Joley Mitchell, Mia Scott, Alyssa Washington and Kayden Henry all launched home runs for the Longhorns, who will try and wrap up a host berth in the Super Regionals with a win over either Northwestern, Saint Francis or Siena tomorrow afternoon.
End 4: Texas 14, Northwestern 2
Stunningly, Texas hasn't left a single runner on the bags after stranding a dozen yesterday. And the Longhorns are matching that efficiency with explosiveness; Joley Mitchell launched the Longhorns' fourth homer of the game and Texas is three outs away from the win. Estelle Czech now in the circle for starter Citlaly Gutierrez. .
Bottom 4: Texas 10, Northwestern 2
The Longhorns have exploded for five runs in the frame, and they're within range of playing Sunday for a berth in the Super Regionals. A 3-run shot by third baseman Mia Scott is the big hit, but Alyssa Washington, Joley Mitchell, Reese Atwood and Kayden Henry also get hits. The Longhorns have now racked up 10 hits, and they're three outs from ending the game via the 8-run mercy rule. They're also poised for more as Atwood stands on third with one out and Cami Henry is warming up in the circle for Northwestern.
Middle 4: Texas 5, Northwestern 2
Northwestern gets a pair of hits against Texas pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez, a but a nice double play initiated by third baseman Mia Scott helps the Longhorns escape any damage. Scott has had a nice defensive game at the hot corner. And by hot, I mean about 95 on the field.
End 3: Texas 5, Northwestern 2
The first error of the game proves costly for Northwestern. Texas third baseman Mia Scott reaches second base on a Wildcat miscue and ends up scoring on a sacrifice fly from Reese Atwood. In a game like this, that one run could loom large.
Middle 3: Texas 4, Northwestern 2
Northwestern responds to Texas' 4-run inning. Outfielder Kelsey Nader launches a 2-run home run that just gets over the right-field wall, and the Wildcats have plated the first runs against Texas in this Austin Regional.
End 2: Texas 4, Northwestern 0
After a pair of 2-run homers from Alyssa Washington and Kayden Henry chased Northwestern starter Riley Grudzielanek from the game, Renae Cunningham comes into the contest and quiets things down. What to know about Cunningham? She's only pitched 43.2 innings in 18 appearances this season and has a 2.89 ERA with 22 strikeouts and eight walks. Opponents are hitting .235 against Cunningham. But the Wildcats have to worry about finding some offense against Texas starter Citlaly Gutierrez for any of that to matter.
Bottom 2: Texas 4, Northwestern 0
Alyssa Washington got the start at second base instead of Leighann Goode, and Coach Mike White's decision pays off. Washington launches a bomb over the field-field wall to give Texas a 2-0 lead. But freshman Kayden Henry says, well, hold my lemonade: She hammers her own 2-run shot, and the Longhorns have chased Northwestern starter Riley Grudzielanek.
Middle 2: Texas 0, Northwestern 0
Texas pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez found her groove that frame. Three up, three down for the sophomore from the Big Country burg of Stamford, Texas. She fanned two and now has three strikeouts.
End 1: Texas 0, Northwestern 0
Texas shortstop Vivi Martinez laces a 1-out shot but her Northwestern counterpart, Bridget Donahey, makes a nice snag for the double play. Wildcat pitcher Riley Grudzielanek has issues with walks but the one she issued to Mia Scott does no harm.
Middle 1: Texas 0, Northwestern 0
Everyone at McCombs Field had thoughts of a perfect game and a no-hitter last night with Texas' Mac Morgan. Not the case today; Texas' Citlaly Gutierrez walks a batter and allows a hit but escapes any trouble by striking out No. 4 hitter Hannah Cady.
What to know about Northwestern pitcher Riley Grudzielanek
The Wildcats are sitting ace Ashley Miller after she worked seven innings in last night's win over Saint Francis, but Grudzielanek (7-1) has won seven of her 10 starts. Grudzielanek can run into trouble sometimes, though; she allows a .277 batting average by opponents and has issued 31 walks with 26 strikeouts in 53 innings this season. Could the Texas lineup be due for a big game?
Citlaly Gutierrez gets the start vs Northwestern
Sophomore pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez gets the nod in the circle for Texas in game two of the NCAA Tournament against Northwestern. Gutierrez (10-1) boasts a 1.49 ERA and has 55 strikeouts with 13 walks in 84.2 innings this season. In her last start in the Big 12 tournament title game against Oklahoma, Gutierrez struck out a career-high 10 batters in a 5-1 loss.
More: Mac Morgan was darn near perfect in Texas' NCAA regional softball win | Bohls
What channel is Texas vs Northwestern on today? How to watch, stream live
TV channel: ESPN+
Texas vs Northwestern start time, TV info, location
Start time: Noon
Location: McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
Texas vs Northwestern preview
TEXAS: The Longhorns (48-7), the Big 12 regular-season champions and the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, beat Siena 5-0 Friday behind a no-hitter from Mac Morgan.
Northwestern: The Big 10 regular-season champion Wildcats (34-11) lean heavily on pitcher Ashley Miller, the Big 10's pitcher of the year. The Wildcats beat Saint Francis 7-2 on Friday.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Replay: Texas beats Northwestern: 2024 NCAA Austin Softball Regional
