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Katie Stewart was already having a rough day in the field before a hard grounder ricocheted into her face.
But the joy of her Texas Longhorns surviving the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series surely helped deaden the pain.
The Texas first baseman committed three errors in the first game of the day, but the second-seeded Longhorns survived No. 7 Tennessee — thanks in part to a home run by Stewart — in a 5-2 decision that forced a win-or-go-home rematch in the WCWS semifinals Monday at Devon Park.
Stewart homered again in the second game, a 4-0 victory that sealed the defending champion Longhorns’ spot in the best-of-three championship series beginning Wednesday night.
And if all that wasn’t enough action for one player, in the top of the sixth inning, Stewart moved left to field a grounder that bounced along the first base line. As Stewart bent down to field it, the ball hit the bag, causing a high hop that bashed into Stewart’s face.
More: Texas softball holds off Tennessee to force winner-take-all WCWS semifinal game
Initially ruled a fair ball with Tennessee’s Ella Dodge sprinting to second for a double, Texas challenged the call and it was overturned, with review showing the ball had hit the orange safety base in foul territory.
Wiping blood from her mouth, Stewart was taken out of the game for the remainder of the inning, though she returned to her position the following inning with glue sealing the cut.
“If there's a kid that's going to put her body on the line for this team, it's going to be Katie Stewart,” Texas coach Mike White said. “She doesn’t always look the prettiest over there getting it done, but this is the same kid who knocked that wall over in left field trying to catch the foul ball, and did catch the foul ball.
“We have full trust in her.”
Texas pitcher Teagen Kavan entered to record the final out of the first game, when Tennessee tried to mount a rally. Then the Longhorn ace spun a two-hit shutout in the second game as Texas became the 11th team in WCWS history to lose its tournament opener, but battle back through the loser’s bracket to reach the finals.
More: Sprinklers interrupt UCLA vs Texas Tech WCWS game as stadium plays 'Umbrella'
Entering Monday’s second game, Kavan never felt reason for concern with Stewart’s defense after the struggles in the first game.
“I think she stepped up in that second game and had a lot of stops that could have been hits for us, so that was huge,” Kavan said. “She just never gets down on herself. If she does, she's able to flip it right back for the team.”
And the Horns’ chances of repeating as national champs will rely heavily on Stewart, who had been hitless in the WCWS before her massive homer in Sunday’s elimination game against Nebraska.
With the two homers she added Monday, Stewart reached 30 for the season. She has now homered in three straight games, and whether the Longhorns face Alabama or Texas Tech — who were set to meet later Monday in the other semifinal — Stewart’s presence will be critical in the Horns’ pursuit of another crown.
“That's what's huge,” Kavan said. “She’s able to bounce back and respond super-well. She's fun to watch, and the team has all the faith in the world in her.”
Scott Wright covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Scott? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X at @ScottWrightOK. Support Scott’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Katie Stewart endures difficult day to help Texas softball to WCWS finals
Continue reading...
But the joy of her Texas Longhorns surviving the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series surely helped deaden the pain.
The Texas first baseman committed three errors in the first game of the day, but the second-seeded Longhorns survived No. 7 Tennessee — thanks in part to a home run by Stewart — in a 5-2 decision that forced a win-or-go-home rematch in the WCWS semifinals Monday at Devon Park.
Stewart homered again in the second game, a 4-0 victory that sealed the defending champion Longhorns’ spot in the best-of-three championship series beginning Wednesday night.
And if all that wasn’t enough action for one player, in the top of the sixth inning, Stewart moved left to field a grounder that bounced along the first base line. As Stewart bent down to field it, the ball hit the bag, causing a high hop that bashed into Stewart’s face.
More: Texas softball holds off Tennessee to force winner-take-all WCWS semifinal game
Initially ruled a fair ball with Tennessee’s Ella Dodge sprinting to second for a double, Texas challenged the call and it was overturned, with review showing the ball had hit the orange safety base in foul territory.
Wiping blood from her mouth, Stewart was taken out of the game for the remainder of the inning, though she returned to her position the following inning with glue sealing the cut.
“If there's a kid that's going to put her body on the line for this team, it's going to be Katie Stewart,” Texas coach Mike White said. “She doesn’t always look the prettiest over there getting it done, but this is the same kid who knocked that wall over in left field trying to catch the foul ball, and did catch the foul ball.
“We have full trust in her.”
Texas pitcher Teagen Kavan entered to record the final out of the first game, when Tennessee tried to mount a rally. Then the Longhorn ace spun a two-hit shutout in the second game as Texas became the 11th team in WCWS history to lose its tournament opener, but battle back through the loser’s bracket to reach the finals.
More: Sprinklers interrupt UCLA vs Texas Tech WCWS game as stadium plays 'Umbrella'
Entering Monday’s second game, Kavan never felt reason for concern with Stewart’s defense after the struggles in the first game.
“I think she stepped up in that second game and had a lot of stops that could have been hits for us, so that was huge,” Kavan said. “She just never gets down on herself. If she does, she's able to flip it right back for the team.”
And the Horns’ chances of repeating as national champs will rely heavily on Stewart, who had been hitless in the WCWS before her massive homer in Sunday’s elimination game against Nebraska.
With the two homers she added Monday, Stewart reached 30 for the season. She has now homered in three straight games, and whether the Longhorns face Alabama or Texas Tech — who were set to meet later Monday in the other semifinal — Stewart’s presence will be critical in the Horns’ pursuit of another crown.
“That's what's huge,” Kavan said. “She’s able to bounce back and respond super-well. She's fun to watch, and the team has all the faith in the world in her.”
Scott Wright covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Scott? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X at @ScottWrightOK. Support Scott’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Katie Stewart endures difficult day to help Texas softball to WCWS finals
Continue reading...
