Texas softball began its quest for a second consecutive berth in the Women’s College World Series Friday with a 10-2 win over Eastern Illinois in the first game of the Austin regional at McCombs Field.
The Longhorns (47-10) pounded out 15 hits, including four hits and five RBIs from Reese Atwood. The All-American catcher provided a fitting end to the game with a bloop double in the bottom of the fifth that scored three runs, which gave Texas the mercy-rule win.
Texas, the sixth overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, will face Michigan Saturday at noon in the double elimination tournament. With a win, the Longhorns will advance to Sunday needing one win in two games to qualify for the NCAA Tournament Super Regionals.
As the No. 4 seed in the Austin regional, Eastern Illinois (34-21) will face No. 2 Central Florida in an elimination game Saturday.
Read below for a replay and highlights.
Texas vs Eastern Illinois softball score updates
Final: Texas 10, Eastern Illinois 2
Texas adds more insurance when Ashton Maloney slaps a hit into left field and scores pinch runner Shylien Brister. Maloney is 3-for-3 tonight with a run, an RBI and a stolen base. And a bloop double by Reese Atwood drives in three more to end the game with an eight-run mercy rule. That’s five RBIs from Atwood as Texas rolls into matchup with Michigan Saturday at noon.
Middle 5: Texas 6, Eastern Illinois 2
EIU’s Kendall Grover gets a 2-out double and scores on a double into the left-field corner by Abbi Hatton. The Panthers are putting up a fight.
End 4: Texas 6, Eastern Illinois 1
Two more left on, but Texas is in control. Eastern Illinois’ Karlie McKenzie, the MVP of the Ohio Valley Conference, replaces Panther starter McKenzie Oslanzi in the circle.
Bottom 4: Texas 6, Eastern Illinois 1
Mia Scott drives a 2-out double to the left-field wall that drives in Kayden Henry. Reese Atwood (3-for-3) follows with an RBI single, and Texas has some breathing room.
Middle 4: Texas 4, Eastern Illinois 1
A second error on SS Katie Stewart, but that’s the only baserunner for Eastern Illinois. Freshman Cambria Salmon has not given up a hit or walk in two innings of relief.
End 3: Texas 4, Eastern Illinois 1
The Texas lineup has had its chances to put the Panthers away, but they can’t get the big hit. Two more left on base; that’s four stranded so far.
Middle 3: Texas 4, Eastern Illinois 1
Nice glovework from 3B Mia Scott and 2B Leighann Goode, and Cambria Salmon retires the side for Texas.
End 2: Texas 4, Eastern Illinois 1
Eastern Illinois dodged some potential trouble when Alisha Frederick caught a line-drive from Kayden Henry and doubled up Kaydee Bennett at second. Two on with no outs quickly became no runs. Freshman Cambria Salmon will take over for Citlaly Gutierrez in the circle for Texas; coach Mike White likely thinking about the rest of the weekend for his staff, especially with this heat.
Middle 2: Texas 4, Eastern Illinois 1
Texas coach Mike White paid a quick visit to the circle after Citlaly Gutierrez had two on with one out, and whatever he said worked. Gutierrez gets out of the frame unscathed.
End 1: Texas 4, Eastern Illinois 1
Bases loaded. Reese Atwood at the plate. What could go wrong for Eastern Illinois? The Texas catcher gets an infield single that scores Ashton Maloney for the first run, but it’s Joley Mitchell with the big shot. Her 2-RBI double off the top of the left-field wall gives Texas an immediate answer.
Middle 1: Eastern Illinois 1, Texas 0
Slow starts have plagued the Longhorns in recent weeks, and it’s more of the same today. Abby Crain draws a leadoff walk, gets to third on a double by Kendall Grover and scores on a sacrifice fly by Alisha Frederick.
Texas vs Eastern Illinois: Start time set
Texas and Eastern Illinois will start at 3:55 p.m. following Michigan’s 4-3 win over Central Florida in the first game of the Austin regional Friday at McCombs Field. The winner will face Michigan at noon Saturday while the loser will play Central Florida. Regional NCAA tournaments follow a double-elimination format.
Texas vs Eastern Illinois starting lineups
Texas batting order
2. CF Kayden Henry
3. 3B Mia Scott
4. C Reese Atwood
5. SS Katie Stewart
6. 1B Joley Micthell
7. DP Katie Cimusz
8. 2B Leighann Goode
9. RF Kaydee Bennett
Eastern Illinois batting order
Texas starting pitcher
Texas coach Mike White will save ace Teagan Kavan until this weekend and start junior Citlaly Gutierrez, who has a 10-1 record, a 2.48 ERA and 66 strikeouts with 31 walks in 76.1 innings this season. She’s spent most of the season as a reliever but has emerged as the Longhorns’ No. 2 starter late in the season.
Eastern Illinois starting pitcher
The Panthers will start their ace, McKenzie Oslanzi, who’s the pitcher of the year in the Ohio Valley Conference this past season. The sophomore has a 20-13 record, a 2.40 ERA and 131 strikeouts with 55 walks in a team-high 198.2 innings.
What time does Texas softball play Eastern Illinois today?
How to watch Texas softball vs Eastern Illinois today
TV: none
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: https://texas.leanplayer.com/
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas vs Eastern Illinois game score: Replay, highlights as UT rolls in NCAA regional
Reporting by Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman / Austin American-Statesman
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
