Replay: Texas softball beats Stanford, reaches finals of Women’s College World Series
For the second time in five days at the Women's College World Series, Texas freshman Teagan Kavan outdueled Stanford All-American pitcher NiJaree Canady while leading the Longhorns to a 1-0 win and the championship series for the second time in three seasons.
Top-ranked Texas (55-8) will now await the winner of Tuesday’s game between No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 4 Florida. The best of-three series will start Wednesday.
Kavan gave up just one hit in a complete-game win against Stanford for the second time in the WCWS. A dramatic run by Alyssa Washington in the top of the seventh inning proved enough with Kavan in the circle.
More: Texas softball vs. Stanford: A preview, prediction for Women's College World Series semifinal
Final 7: Texas 1, Stanford 0
Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan shuts down Stanford without any drama for her second one-hot, complete game win of the WCWS . -- Thomas Jones
Middle 7: Texas 1, Stanford 0
If this 1-0 lead holds up, Mike White gets a gold star for making things happen and being aggressive. -- Kirk Bohls
Middle 7: Texas 1, Stanford 0
Credit Stanford's NiJaree Canady. After Alyssa Washington scores in a wild rundown attempt, the Longhorns have runners on second and third, but Canady doesn't let anything out of the infield and escapes without any further damage. But Texas finally has that lead; can Teagan Kavan close out a second-straight, complete-game shutout win over the Cardinal? -- Thomas Jones
Top 7: Texas 1, Stanford 0
Safe! Alyssa Washington is safe at home! On a bunt attempt by Ashton Maloney, Washington tries to run home but gets caught in a rundown. The wily captain somehow slides under the tag attempt by by first baseman Ava Gall. That little toss by third baseman Jade Berry to Gall was a little too soft. And this comes after a Stanford error put Washington on the bags. Wow again. -- Thomas Jones
End 6: Texas 0, Stanford 0
Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan gets her sixth strikeout after Taryn Kern is called for a clock violation for strike three. Wow. -- Thomas Jones
Middle 6: Texas 0, Stanford 0
Texas becomes the first team to get a runner to third when pinch runner Adayah Wallace steals second and reaches third on an error, but Kayden Henry's sharply hit grounder with two outs is gobbled up by Stanford second baseman Taryn Kern. Huge escape by NiJaree Canady and the Cardinal. -- Thomas Jones
End 5: Texas 0, Stanford 0
Texas freshman Teagan Kavan is once again matching Stanford's NiJaree Canady pitch for pitch. The Cardinal have just that one hit, a single in the second inning from Jade Berry. And once again, it helps to have Bella Dayton in left field tracking down everything, fair or foul. -- Thomas Jones
Middle 5: Texas 0, Stanford 0
Stanford's NiJaree Canady is on some roll right now. She's fanned four Texas batters in a row and five of the last six. You get the feeling a miscue may decide this one. -- Thomas Jones
End 4: Texas 0, Stanford 0
Texas pitching has been so dominant. Through 16 innings (Texas run-ruled Florida in 5 innings), the Longhorns have allowed zero runs and three singles. -- Kirk Bohls
More: Texas softball remains loose, confident and dino-mite | Bohls
End 4: Texas 0, Stanford 0
Texas starter Teagan Kavan gives up her first walk of the game on a tight call, but the Cardinal strand Ava Gall. They can barely touch Kavan; over 11 innings in two games at the WCWS, they have just two hits and 11 strikeouts against the freshman phenom. -- Thomas Jones
Middle 4: Texas 0, Stanford 0
The Longhorns have made great targets this NCAA post-season. Alyssa Washington became the second Horn plunked this game and the ninth hit by a pitch in Texas' nine post-season games. -- Kirk Bohls
Middle 4: Texas 0, Stanford 0
A one-out double by Katie Stewart and a two-out hit batter that puts Alyssa Washington on first gets NiJaree Canady in her first serious trouble of the game, but the Stanford sophomore fans Joley Mitchell for her third strikeout of the game to escape the inning. -- Thomas Jones
More: Texas shortstop Viviana Martinez played for USA Softball, and it helped journey to WCWS
End 3: Texas 0, Stanford 0
Teagan Kavan is getting lots of help from this Texas defense This time, it's centerfielder Kayden Henry robbing River Mahler of a single with a diving catch in shallow center. Impressive stuff from Kavan and the Longhorn gloves so far. -- Thomas Jones
Middle 3: Texas 0, Stanford 0
Bella Dayton legs out an infield single for the Longhorns and Mia Scott and Vivi Martinez follow with a couple of sharply hit outs, but we're still scoreless in a game that has two hits by Texas and one for the Cardinal. -- Thomas Jones
End 2: Texas 0, Stanford 0
Defense may be at times Texas' one glaring deficiency. It ranked 117th nationally. But Kavan alertly fields her position and starts a 1-6-3 double play to erase Stanford's only baserunner of the game. Dayton also had that great sliding catch in the outfield in the first inning. -- Kirk Bohls
End 2: Texas 0, Stanford 0
The wheels are turning quick for pitcher Teagan Kavan, who makes a quick throw to second to start a double play. Stanford does match its hit total from Thursday with a single by Jade Berry, but that double play ends any threat -- Thomas Jones
Middle 2: Texas 0, Stanford 0
Stanford's NiJaree Canady plunks Katie Stewart to lead off the inning, but Texas can't move her over. Both pitchers have settled in early in this semifinal game. The Cardinal will be very comfortable in a nail-biter, based on a lot of their wins this season. -- Thomas Jones
End 1: Texas 0, Stanford 0
Texas starter Teagan Kavan picks up where she left off against the Cardinal with three straight outs. It helps when an outfielder like Bella Dayton makes a nice sliding catch out in left. -- Thomas Jones
Middle 1: Texas 0, Stanford 0
Stanford's NiJaree Canady gives up a one-out bouncer into left field for a hit by Mia Scott but no other Longhorn reaches base. The home-designated Cardinal now get ready for Teagan Kavan. Let's see what they learned after getting just one hit against Kavan in Thursday's 4-0 win by Texas in the WCWS. -- Thomas Jones
Texas dominant so far in two WCWS games
In its wins over Stanford and Florida, Texas outscored the two 14-0 and allowed only four baserunners to even reach second base. Six of the Longhorn starters have two hits apiece in the two games, and Reese Atwood hasn't even gotten hot yet. She's 1 for 4. Wonder if she comes up big tonight. -- Kirk Bohls
Stanford star NiJaree Canady, Texas freshman Teagan Kavan meet again
We will have a pitching rematch from the WCWS opener. Texas will start freshman Teagan Kavan (19-2), who had a dazzling WCWS debut on Thursday when she allowed just one hit while striking out eight Stanford batters. Stanford will counter with ace NiJaree Canady, who was selected as USA Softball’s player of the year over a short list of finalists that included Texas catcher Reese Atwood. Canady (31-9) entered the WCWS leading the nation in strikeouts with 310 as well as with an ERA of 0.65. She has started all three of Stanford’s WCWS games and has allowed 12 hits and five runs in 19 total innings. Her strikeouts have been slightly down in Oklahoma City; she’s fanned 20 batters while giving up seven walks. Texas had five hits in its 4-0 win over Stanford, including RBI hits by Bella Dayton, Kayden Henry and Mia Scott. - Thomas Jones
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Replay: Texas softball beats Stanford, reaches finals of WCWS
