The Longhorns and Aggies collide for a spot in the SEC Championship game.
In the SEC Softball Tournament, a high-stakes semifinal matchup is set between two powerhouse programs in Athens: the No. 5 Texas Longhorns and the No. 1 Texas A&M Aggies. Both teams have showcased exceptional talent throughout the season, setting the stage for an electrifying contest.
Longhorn juggernaut
The Longhorns enter the semifinal with full confidence and a formidable 46-9 overall record and a 16-8 mark in conference play after holding their own against the No. 21 Rebels in the quarterfinal of the SEC tournament, 7-6.
Texas jumped out to a fast start on Thursday against Ole Miss, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning by sending nine batters to the plate, producing three hits and three walks.
A two-run home run by sophomore center fielder Kayden Henry in the fourth made it 6-1, but the Rebels tied it with a big frame in the fifth when sophomore right-hander Tegan Kavan ran into trouble, hitting the leadoff batter, allowing a single, a double, a walk, and another single before departing in favor of junior right-hander Citlaly Gutierrez, who allowed two RBI singles before finally escaping the inning.
Gutierrez picked up her 10th win of the season by recording the final nine outs when the Horns mounted a two-out rally in the seventh started by an infield single by junior right fielder Ashton Maloney and an error by the Rebels second baseman on a grounder by Henry. Senior third baseman Mia Scott took advantage with a drive to center field that plated Maloney for the winning run.
WALK IT OFF MIA SCOTT #HookEm pic.twitter.com/ZoYpaNKdgc
— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) May 8, 2025
“The Ole Miss game today was an incredible level of emotions. Definitely a roller coaster. You’re up and you think you have got everything in hand and then they keep fighting and keep fighting and you’ve got to tip your hat to them. They played tremendously well, especially in the field with some late plays there. But our team just had a good fight and come back to be able to take advantage of the situation,” Texas head coach Mike White said.
Their offense has been a dominant force, boasting a team batting average of .355 and amassing 73 home runs over 55 games. Key contributors include Scott (.444 AVG, 67 H, 53 RBI), junior catcher Reese Atwood (.407 AVG, 17 HR, 69 RBI), and sophomore infielder Katie Stewart (.364 AVG, 13 HR, 72 RBI).
On the mound, Texas maintains a team ERA of 2.57, limiting opponents to a .223 batting average. Kavan (21-4, 2.46 ERA, 188 SO) and Gutierrez (10-1, 2.23 ERA) have been instrumental in the team’s success.
Aggie excellence
The Aggies boast a 44-9 overall record with a 16-7 conference mark after taking care of business against No. 12 South Carolina in their quarterfinal showdown, 12-4.
Their offense is equally impressive, holding a team batting average of .336 and hitting 52 home runs. Notable players include sophomore infielder Mya Perez (.450 AVG, 14 HR, 68 RBI), junior infielder Amari Harper (.390 AVG, 5 HR, 33 RBI), and graduate infielder Mac Barbara (.368 AVG, 10 HR, 58 RBI).
Texas A&M’s pitching staff has been solid, with a team ERA of 2.72 by holding opponents to a .223 batting average against them. Senior left-hander Emiley Kennedy leads the rotation with a 20-4 record and a 2.68 ERA, complemented by sophomore right-hander Sidne Peters (7-0, 1.47 ERA) and junior right-hander Grace Sparks (8-1, 3.06 ERA).
Anticipated Showdown
This semifinal matchup promises a thrilling contest between two elite programs. With potent offenses and strong pitching staffs, the game is poised to be a showcase of collegiate softball at its finest. Fans can expect a tightly-contested battle as both teams aim for a coveted spot in the SEC Championship game either against No. 6 Arkansas or No. 2 Oklahoma in Athens at Jack Turner Softball Stadium. First pitch is at 4:50 p.m. Central on ESPN2.
