The Women’s College World Series got off to a strong start with the top-seeded Texas defeating Stanford 4-0 in the opening game. Freshman pitcher Teagan Kavan threw a one-hitter, striking out eight and walking four in seven innings. She outperformed Stanford’s NiJaree Canady, who allowed four runs on five hits despite being the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
Kayden Henry and Ava Gall were the standout players for their respective teams, with Henry contributing two hits and a run scored for Texas, while Gall had the only hit for Stanford. The Longhorns will face off against Oklahoma State or Florida on Saturday in an attempt to secure a spot in the semifinals, while Stanford will play the loser of that game in an elimination match on Friday.
The third inning was pivotal for Texas as they scored off Canady with Bella Dayton’s RBI single and Mia Scott’s base hit that allowed Dayton to avoid being tagged at home plate. Despite getting two base runners in the fifth inning, Stanford was unable to score any runs. Texas secured their victory with insurance runs in the sixth thanks to Henry’s two-run single with the bases loaded.
This season marks Canady’s fourth appearance at the Women’s College World Series, where she has consistently been one of her team’s top performers. In 2019, she faced a similar situation against No. 1 seed Oklahoma and a dominant hitting team but ended up losing 2-0 to them. However, she helped guide her team back into contention for a spot in the semifinals by leading them with her outstanding play throughout the tournament.
