The Women’s College World Series tightened on Sunday as Texas and Texas Tech took different paths into the semifinals picture, with Nebraska’s run ending after a late Texas rally. The final matchup to complete the semifinal field featured No. 8 UCLA against No. 11 Texas Tech, while No. 1 Alabama and No. 7 Tennessee waited for the winners on Monday.
Texas found itself in trouble for most of the afternoon before breaking through against Nebraska pitcher Jordy Frahm, who had no-hit Texas through 5 1/3 innings. The Longhorns finally ended that run with consecutive one-out singles from Jaycie Nichols and Kayden Henry, then Katie Stewart drove the second pitch she saw 250 feet down the left-field line for a three-run home run.
Texas survives after late surge
Texas won 3-1 and advanced to face Tennessee in Monday’s first semifinal. Nebraska’s season ended after Frahm’s near-historic outing unraveled in the sixth, and the Cornhuskers could not answer in the final inning.
The game flipped quickly after Frahm had been in control for most of the day. Texas had been held without a hit until the sixth, but once Nichols and Henry reached, Stewart’s home run changed the momentum and gave the Longhorns the lead they needed.
Texas Tech and UCLA bring power to the spotlight
Texas Tech entered its matchup with UCLA after a narrow 2-1 loss to Tennessee in nine innings on Saturday, while UCLA arrived after an 11-0 win over Arkansas. The Bruins and Red Raiders were scheduled for the night game on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET, with a semifinal berth on the line against Alabama.
Texas Tech opened strongly and made immediate pressure count, while UCLA answered with its own power to keep the game close. The matchup quickly became a test of pitching control and timely hitting, especially with NiJaree Canady in the circle for the Red Raiders and Taylor Tinsley starting for the Bruins.
Early swings set up a tense finish
Texas Tech struck first in the opening inning and later built a 3-2 lead after Jasmyn Burns and Jackie Lis helped keep the offense moving. But UCLA responded with a two-run homer from Jordan Woolery to take a 2-1 edge after the first, and Burns tied it again with a solo shot in the second.
Canady, the two-time All-American, was making her 17th WCWS start, which tied an NCAA record. She ran into trouble in the third inning after Texas Tech had already generated traffic on the bases, and her outing ended after 2 1/3 innings with three hit batters and a walk.
Kaitlyn Terry relieved her and kept Texas Tech from losing control of the game, but UCLA continued to pressure the Red Raiders with aggressive swings and constant base traffic. The Bruins also leaned on Taylor Tinsley, who worked through a difficult second inning before settling enough to keep UCLA within reach.
Semifinal path now taking shape
With Texas already through, the Longhorns will meet Tennessee on Monday in the first semifinal, while Alabama awaits the winner of UCLA and Texas Tech. The bracket left little margin for error, and both remaining games carried elimination stakes that matched the intensity seen across the first days in Oklahoma City.
Saturday’s results framed Sunday’s pressure, with Alabama defeating Nebraska 5-1 and Tennessee edging Texas Tech 2-1 in nine innings. By the time Texas completed its comeback and UCLA-Texas Tech began, the WCWS had already delivered the kind of late-inning swings that define the tournament’s final stretch.
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