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OKLAHOMA CITY — Based on her bona fides, Texas softball ace Teagan Kavan can match up with anyone in college softball, especially in the pressure-cooker of the Women’s College World Series.
But in order to use Kavan in a winner-take-all semifinal Monday at Devon Park, Texas coach Mike White needed seldom-used senior Citlaly Gutierrez to step up in the biggest start of her career.
Gutierrez certainly did that while handcuffing Tennessee in the Longhorns’ 5-2 win in Monday’s first game. Her performance – Tennessee had just five hits and two runs before Gutierrez game way to Kavan in the sixth inning – sent a jolt through the entire Texas squad and seemed to give the Longhorns unstoppable momentum heading into Game 2.
Just ask Kavan, who threw her ninth complete-game WCWS win and her fifth complete-game WCWS shutout during a 4-0 victory in Game 2. She broke a WCWS record for complete-game shutouts she shared with Longhorn legend Cat Osterman.
“The second we all knew that Cit was going to throw today, she was going to give us her all and leave it all on the field,” Kavan said. “That's what we wanted to do for her as well, and then myself in my response, too. We just wanted to empty the tank today, and I think we were able to do that. It was huge for her to see that. We’re not here without her. It was a huge, huge performance for her.”
MORE: Texas vs Tennessee: Katie Stewart OK after leaving game following groundball to the face
Even though Gutierrez had the lowest workload of her career this season with 73.1 innings before Monday, she still entered the game with 113 career appearances and 357.1 innings.
Those numbers include multiple appearances in the past two WCWS, which helped ease any nerves entering an elimination game.
“Today, I wanted to leave it all out there,” she said. “It's do or die, so I gave it my all, and I knew my offense was going to have my back today.”
That’s an understatement considering the Longhorns banged out 13 hits in the first game, including the first career home run at the WCWS for Reese Atwood, the Longhorns’ all-time home run leader.
“Even when things got rocky, Reese was telling us, ‘We got your back,’ and they did,” Gutierrez said. “I thought that was really beneficial.”
Texas coach Mike White wrestled with his decision about a starter in the first game, but he knew “we can’t throw Teagan 14 innings.”
“Just what she (Gutierrez) has done over the last month,” he said. “She's gotten stronger each one. We worked with the mental part of the game making sure she has that confidence. Sometimes she gets nervous just playing at home in a Tuesday night game, and it's like, ‘Cit, you played for the Mexican national team and played for the national champions.’ She cares a lot and wants to do well and sometimes puts too much pressure on herself.”
But not tonight.
“Today, she was lights out,” he said. “Just awesome.”
As for Kavan, White made his case for the two-time All-American to get even more respect. Kavan has never received first-team All-American honors while being overshadowed by peers such as Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady and Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens, who allowed seven Texas hits in a complete-game effort in Game 2.
Yes, Kavan’s career ERA of 2.26 has never been at the top of the NCAA stat rankings. But as evident by her 9-2 record at the WCWS, no one is better in the biggest moments.
"Every now and then, you're lucky to pick up a pitcher that can do that for you," White said. "Teagan's been able to do that. It's tough when you look at her numbers. She should be first-team All-American. Her numbers don't show that. But to play against the top teams and get big outs in key situations warrants it, but it's just one of those things."
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But in order to use Kavan in a winner-take-all semifinal Monday at Devon Park, Texas coach Mike White needed seldom-used senior Citlaly Gutierrez to step up in the biggest start of her career.
Gutierrez certainly did that while handcuffing Tennessee in the Longhorns’ 5-2 win in Monday’s first game. Her performance – Tennessee had just five hits and two runs before Gutierrez game way to Kavan in the sixth inning – sent a jolt through the entire Texas squad and seemed to give the Longhorns unstoppable momentum heading into Game 2.
Just ask Kavan, who threw her ninth complete-game WCWS win and her fifth complete-game WCWS shutout during a 4-0 victory in Game 2. She broke a WCWS record for complete-game shutouts she shared with Longhorn legend Cat Osterman.
“The second we all knew that Cit was going to throw today, she was going to give us her all and leave it all on the field,” Kavan said. “That's what we wanted to do for her as well, and then myself in my response, too. We just wanted to empty the tank today, and I think we were able to do that. It was huge for her to see that. We’re not here without her. It was a huge, huge performance for her.”
MORE: Texas vs Tennessee: Katie Stewart OK after leaving game following groundball to the face
Citlaly Gutierrez ‘just awesome’ in win
Even though Gutierrez had the lowest workload of her career this season with 73.1 innings before Monday, she still entered the game with 113 career appearances and 357.1 innings.
Those numbers include multiple appearances in the past two WCWS, which helped ease any nerves entering an elimination game.
“Today, I wanted to leave it all out there,” she said. “It's do or die, so I gave it my all, and I knew my offense was going to have my back today.”
That’s an understatement considering the Longhorns banged out 13 hits in the first game, including the first career home run at the WCWS for Reese Atwood, the Longhorns’ all-time home run leader.
“Even when things got rocky, Reese was telling us, ‘We got your back,’ and they did,” Gutierrez said. “I thought that was really beneficial.”
Texas coach Mike White wrestled with his decision about a starter in the first game, but he knew “we can’t throw Teagan 14 innings.”
“Just what she (Gutierrez) has done over the last month,” he said. “She's gotten stronger each one. We worked with the mental part of the game making sure she has that confidence. Sometimes she gets nervous just playing at home in a Tuesday night game, and it's like, ‘Cit, you played for the Mexican national team and played for the national champions.’ She cares a lot and wants to do well and sometimes puts too much pressure on herself.”
But not tonight.
“Today, she was lights out,” he said. “Just awesome.”
Mike White: Teagan Kavan should be first-team All-American
As for Kavan, White made his case for the two-time All-American to get even more respect. Kavan has never received first-team All-American honors while being overshadowed by peers such as Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady and Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens, who allowed seven Texas hits in a complete-game effort in Game 2.
Yes, Kavan’s career ERA of 2.26 has never been at the top of the NCAA stat rankings. But as evident by her 9-2 record at the WCWS, no one is better in the biggest moments.
"Every now and then, you're lucky to pick up a pitcher that can do that for you," White said. "Teagan's been able to do that. It's tough when you look at her numbers. She should be first-team All-American. Her numbers don't show that. But to play against the top teams and get big outs in key situations warrants it, but it's just one of those things."
Continue reading...
