Lady Vols take down Texas in the first round of the WCWS

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Tennessee Lady Volunteers take down the Texas Longhorns in the first round of the Women’s College World Series, 6-3.

The Lady Volunteers stay in the winners bracket and will face Texas Tech, who run-ruled Mississippi State 8-0 in the first round, on Saturday at 3 pm ET.

Related Coverage: WORLD SERIES BOUND! Tennessee takes down Georgia to advance to its 10th Women’s College World Series

Elsa Morrison was the hero for Tennessee in its win over Texas. The Farragut alum hit a three-run blast for Tennessee in the top of the second inning to get the offense going. Morrison went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI.

GAME THREAD BELOW

Sage Mardjetko will start in the circle for Tennessee. The Lady Volunteers are the visiting team as the No. 7 seed and Texas is the home team as the No. 2 seed.

Texas got out of the top of the first quickly, going three up, three down. The first inning remains scoreless as Mardjetko and the Lady Vols get three quick outs. The Lady Vols’ defense working great behind Mardjetko to capture all three outs.

END 1ST | TENNESSEE 0, TEXAS 0

Tennessee gets its first base runner as Alannah Leach is hit by a pitch to lead things off. Kavan then walks McKenzie Butt and the Lady Volunteers have runners on first and second. Then Knoxville’s own Elsa Morrison slams a first pitch three-run home run over the center field wall and the Lady Volunteers are on the board first. Kavan registers three straight outs, including two strikeouts to get out of the frame.

With one out, Texas draws a walk for its first base runner of the game. Mardjetko strikes out the next batter for out two and then a rountine groundout to Emma Clarke at second base and the Lady Vols get out of the inning.

END 2ND | TENNESSEE 3, TEXAS 0

With one out, Ella Dodge hits a hard hit groundball down the third base line. When she rounded first, it looked like the throw beat her there, but she dodged the tag with a beautiful slide into second base. Emma Clarke hits a blooper into shallow center field. She turns it into a double as Dodge gets caught in a rundown between second and third. Dodge dove into third and was at first called out, but Karen Weekly challenged the call and it was overturned.

Alannah Leach hit a groundball to shortstop and she makes it to second on a fielder’s choice as Texas gets Dodge out in another rundown between third and home for out two. Kavan strikes out Butt for out three and Tennessee leaves two runners stranded.

With one out in the bottom of the third, Clarke bobbles a ground ball at second and Jaycie Nichols is safe a first. With a runner on first, Texas’ Kayden Henry hits a hard line drive down the first base side, Butt snags it and steps on first to get Tennessee out of the inning.

END 3RD | TENNESSEE 3, TEXAS 0

Texas has a quick 1-2-3 inning in the fourth. With one out in the bottom of the frame, Mardjetko walks Viviana Martinez. Then the Lady Vols’ defense gets two quick outs to get out of the inning.

END 4TH | TENNESSEE 3, TEXAS 0

Texas brings in Citlaly Gutierrez to pitch for Kavan to begin the fifth inning. Taelyn Holley connects on a hard hit ground ball right up the middle and advances to second on a wild pitch to get things start for Tennessee, no outs. Sophia Knight hits a ground ball down the first base line for out one, but moves Holley over to third base. On a wild pitch, Holley steals home easily and the Lady Vols extend their lead, 4-0.

Gutierrez strikes out Dodge for out two and Clarke hits a ground ball to the third baseman for an easy throw to first for out three.

Karlyn Pickens comes in the circle for Tennessee to start the fifth inning. Texas starts the frame with a leadoff single from Hannah Wells followed by a single from Ashton Maloney. The Longhorns have two on with no outs. Morrison catches a pop up in foul territory for out one. Victoria Hunter comes in to pinch hit for Texas and hits a ground ball to Bella Faw at shortstop. Faw steps on second and on the throw to first for the double play, she over throws it and Texas scores one run. Knight catches a fly ball to center field for out three and Tennessee escapes without too much damage done.

END 5TH | TENNESSEE 4, TEXAS 1

Morrison’s hot bat continues as she almost hits another one out. With one out, the Farragut alum knocks on to the top of the wall in right center field for an easy double. Up to bat next, Gabby Leach hits a hard groundball to second and the Texas fielder has trouble fielding it. Zoe Shuler, who came in to pinch run for Morrison, comes around third and is able to score. Texas gets out of the frame catching a pop up by Meredith Barnhart.

Texas cuts into the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning as Leighann Goode hits a two-run home run with two outs. Pickens gets out three, striking out Wells and Tennessee holds onto the lead going into the final inning.

END 6TH | TENNESSEE 5, TEXAS 3

Tennessee gets runners on second and third with one out in the top of the seventh. Clarke hits a line drive out to left field, it is caught and Holley tags up at third and scores. Knight is out number three as she is gets tagged trying to steal third during the rundown.

Tennessee gets two quick outs and they take down the defending National Champions, Texas, 6-3 to advance and stay in the winners bracket.

For the full schedule of the Women’s College World Series, click here.