AUSTIN, Texas — Texas would require all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments under a Republican proposal that cleared a major vote Saturday and would make the state the nation’s largest to impose such a mandate.

If passed as expected, the measure is likely to draw a legal challenge from critics who consider it a constitutional violation of the separation of church and state.

The Republican-controlled House gave its preliminary approval with a final vote expected in the next few days. That would send the bill to the desk of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has indicated he will sign it into law.

“The focus of this bill is to look at what is historically important to our nation educationally and judicially,” said Republican state Rep. Candy Noble, a co-sponsor of the bill.

Louisiana and Arkansas have similar laws, but Louisiana’s is on hold after a federal judge found it to be “unconstitutional on its face.”

Those measures are among efforts in many conservative-led states to insert religion into public schools. The vote in Texas came after the U.S. Supreme Court in effect put an end to a publicly funded Catholic charter school in Oklahoma on Thursday with a 4-4 tie after a string of high court decisions in recent years that have allowed public funds to flow to religious entities.

Texas lawmakers also have sent to Abbott a measure that allows school districts to provide students and staff a daily voluntary period of prayer or time to read a religious text during school hours. Abbott is expected to sign it.

“We should be encouraging our students to read and study their Bible every day,” Republican state Rep. Brent Money said. “Our kids in our public schools need prayer, need Bible reading, more now than they ever have.”

Supporters of requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms say they are part of the foundation of the United States’ judicial and educational systems and should be displayed.

Critics, including some Christian and other faith leaders, say the Ten Commandments and prayer measures would infringe on the religious freedom of others.

The Ten Commandments bill would require public schools to post in classrooms a 16-by-20-inch poster or framed copy of a specific English version of the commandments, even though translations and interpretations vary across denominations, faiths and languages and may differ in homes and houses of worship.

Democratic lawmakers made several failed attempts Saturday to amend the bill to require schools to display other religious texts or provide multiple translations of the commandments.

A letter signed this year by dozens of Christian and Jewish faith leaders opposing the bill noted that Texas has thousands of students of other faiths who might have no connection to the Ten Commandments. Texas has nearly 6 million students in about 9,100 public schools.

In 2005, Abbott as state attorney general successfully argued before the Supreme Court that Texas could keep a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of its Capitol.

Vertuno and Lathan write for the Associated Press.

Texas softball kept its season alive in a hard-fought win on Saturday to force a win-or-go-home Game 3 against Clemson in the Austin Super Regional.

Texas and Clemson were tied at 5-5 at the end of the seventh inning, forcing extra innings. The game extended to the 10th, until the Longhorns took a 7-5 lead in the top half of the frame after a pair of singles scored Katie Stewart and Leighann Goode.

REQUIRED READING: Who’s in WCWS? Updated bracket, scores, schedule for NCAA softball tournament

Perhaps the story of the game, however, was ace Teagan Kavan, who was dominant in relief for the Longhorns. Kavan, who was tagged for five runs by Clemson on Thursday night, pitched 5 1/3 innings in relief, allowing no runs on four hits with seven strikeouts.

In a back-and-forth game, Texas prevailed despite a valiant effort from Clemson. The series-deciding game on Saturday is shaping up to be quite the matchup, with a Women’s College World Series appearance on the line.

Here are the highlights from the Longhorns’ 7-5 extra-innings win on Saturday:

Texas hangs on for the win, keeping its season alive and forcing a win-or-go-home Game 3 for a spot in the WCWS on Saturday. Buckle up.

Ashton Maloney gets an infield single, which scores Leighann Goode from second base. The Longhorns take a 7-5 lead in the top of the 10th inning.

Katie Stewart hits a leadoff single, and eventually makes her way to third base, then scoring on a sacrifice fly by Kaydee Bennett. Huge sequence for the Longhorns.

Teagan Kavan has been nails for Texas, picking up her fifth, sixth and seventh strikeout in relief tonight. Texas and Clemson have gone four consecutive innings without scoring, as the Longhorns bats come up in the top of the 10th inning.

The Tigers get a pop up to end the inning, setting up another chance for them to earn a walk-off win. Clemson needs one run to earn its first WCWS appearance.

There’s some momentum for Texas, as Scott hits a two-out triple in the top of the ninth inning. The hit sets up a huge spot for Reese Atwood, but Atwood gets intentionally walked.

Josey Mitchell coming up to bat with Texas runners on first and third.

Clemson had runners on second and third with no outs, needing one run to win, but Texas and ace Teagan Kavan get out of the inning after a strikeout, a lineout and a groundout.

Not ideal for the Tigers.

The Tigers kick off the bottom of the eighth with back-to-back singles, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Teagan Kavan’s wild pitch then advances both runners, giving Clemson a golden opportunity here.

Clemson sets down Texas in order and sets up another chance at a walk-off victory in the bottom of the eighth. Both teams are scoreless since the fifth inning.

Teagan Kavan puts up another zero, resulting in free softball at the Austin Super Regional. Texas and Clemson are tied at 5-5 heading into the top of the eighth.

What a play by Texas’ Katie Stewart, who throws out Julia Knowler at second base after Knowler tried to extend her hit to the outfield into a double. The Longhorns keep Clemson from having a leadoff baserunner in scoring position.

Clemson puts up a zero in the top of the seventh inning and now looks to earn a walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh with the score tied at 5-5.

Can the Tigers take Game 2 and earn their first WCWS berth?

Teagan Kavan has been perfect in relief for Texas, with no hits or walks issued through 1 2/3 innings of work. Texas hitters coming up in the top of the seventh with the score still tied at 5-5.

Brooke McCubbin escapes the fifth inning after allowing a pair of Texas singles, striking out two hitters to end the inning. McCubbin was fired up after her inning-ending strikeout, letting out a yell with her teammates.

Teagan Kavan, who started on Thursday night, is entering in relief for Texas as it looks to keep its season alive.

This game keeps going back and forth, as Clemson ties it at 5-5 on the solo home run by Macey Cintron. The ball is flying out of the park tonight.

Joley Mitchell comes up huge, as she launches a two-run double that nearly gets out of the park. Texas regains the lead, taking a 5-4 advantage in the top of the fifth inning.

Reese Basinger’s night ends after four innings, allowing three runs on five hits with no strikeouts. Brooke McCubbin has a 2.59 ERA in 132 1/3 innings this season and has typically come in relief during the postseason.

Citlaly Gutierrez forces a fly out on a 3-2 count to get the Longhorns out of the inning. Clemson did its damage, however, as it plated two runs to take a 4-3 lead heading into the fifth inning.

Sophia Simpson walks Maddie Moore, which gives Clemson a 4-3 lead. Simpson’s night is over after walking two Tigers hitters, as Texas is turning to Citlaly Gutierrez with bases loaded.

Gutierrez pitched two innings and allowed a run on two hits on Thursday night.

Sophia Simpson issues a four-pitch walk to load the bases with two outs for Clemson. The Tigers’ best hitter is up to bat, too, as Maddie Moore is looking to do some damage here after hitting a mammoth home run earlier in the game.

Senior right-hander Sophia Simpson, who has thrown only 4 2/3 innings this season, is coming in relief of Cambria Salmon. Salmon’s night ends after 3 2/3 innings pitched, allowing six hits and three runs with two strikeouts.

Clemson 9-hole hitter Jamison Brockenbrough comes up big, driving in a run with two outs to tie the game at 3-3.

The Tigers started the bottom of the fourth inning with back-to-back leadoff singles, before Texas got two outs.

Texas regains the lead on a solo home run by Reese Atwood, who sneaks one just over the fence to give the Longhorns a 3-2 lead. Atwood’s home run is the third of the game by both teams.

Clemson’s Maddie Moore absolutely crushes a pitch from Cambria Salmon to left-center field, tying the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third inning. Moore got every piece of that ball, and even delivered a bat flip after.

Texas legend Cat Osterman, one of the best softball pitchers ever, is in the building for Texas-Clemson. She’s currently in the booth being interviewed on the TV broadcast.

Texas coach Mike White’s decision to start Cambria Salmon is paying off so far, as the true freshman has been nails through two innings so far. Meanwhile, Reese Basinger has also been solid despite the two-run home run.

Texas shortstop Leighann Goode launches a deep fly ball to left field, resulting in a 2-0 lead for the Longhorns.

Much better start for Texas than in Game 1.

Cambria Salmon allows a two-out single to Clemson 3-hole hitter Julia Knowler but gets out of the inning unscathed.

Longhorns and Tigers are tied at zero through the first inning.

Reese Basinger allows a leadoff hit to Ashton Maloney but sets down the next three Texas hitters. Clemson’s 1-2-3 due up next in the bottom of the first inning.

Reese Basinger fires the first pitch for Clemson, and game two of the Austin Super Regional is underway. The Tigers are serving as the home team.

1. 3B Alex Brown
2. 2B Maddie Moore
3. 1B Julia Knowler
4. DP Macey Cintron
5. C Aby Vieira
6. SS Marian Collins
7. RF Taylor Pipkins
8. LF Kylee Johnson
9. CF Jamison Brockenbrough

Reese Basinger in the circle.

1. RF Ashton Maloney
2. CF Kayden Henry
3. 3B Mia Scott
4. C Reese Atwood
5. 1B Josey Mitchell
6. LF Katie Stewart
7. SS Leighann Goode
8. DP Vanessa Quiroga
9. 2B Kaydee Bennett

Cambria Salmon in the circle.

Texas is giving the ball to freshman Cambria Salmon, after Teagan Kavan gave up five runs on Thursday night. Salmon has thrown 55 1/3 innings this season to a 2.02 ERA, and is making her first start since March 10.

Clemson hasn’t lost since April 19, when it was upset by Boston College 5-2 at home. Since, the Tigers are 11-0, with wins over Texas, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Tennessee.

Clemson is playing its best softball at the right time and is looking for its first ever WCWS berth.

• Date: Friday, May 23
• Time: 9 p.m. ET
• Where: Red & Charline McCombs Field (Austin, Texas)

Game 2 of the Austin Super Regional between the Longhorns and Tigers is scheduled for a 9 p.m. ET start.

Texas and Clemson’s super regional game will air on ESPN2. Streaming options include the EPSN app (with a cable login), ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service and Fubo, the last of which offers a free trial.

The Texas Longhorns have put themselves in a challenging position in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

After losing the first game of the Austin Super Regional to the Clemson Tigers 7-4, the Longhorns will be facing elimination from the tournament in game two and will have to win two straight games against the Tigers to keep their season alive.

The biggest struggle for Texas was defensively, especially in the third inning, allowing the Tigers to score three runs and gain the momentum in the ballgame. After a couple of errors from the shortstop allowed for a run to come in and a misjudged fly ball dropped in left field, allowed for two more runs to score, Clemson gained the lead and never looked back.

Not much offensive help was given to the Longhorns’ pitching staff, who struggled to get many of the Clemson batters out. Starting pitcher sophomore Teagan Kavan forced a lot of weak contact, but it still resulted in nine hits and six earned runs with just two strikeouts in her five innings of work.

The Longhorns’ batters could not get much working at the plate, aside from a solo home run from senior Mia Scott, a fielder’s error that led to a run, and a two-RBI base hit from sophomore Kayden Henry. Much of the explosive offense from a week ago was stifled. Texas had two opportunities with bases loaded in the fifth and sixth innings, but could not capitalize on the big opportunities.

All hope is not lost for the Longhorns as they are no strangers to playing with their backs against the wall, as they were in the same situation a season ago. Texas dropped the first game of last year’s Austin Super Regional to the Texas A&M Aggies 6-5 but bounced back resoundingly, winning the next two games both in nail-biting fashion, 9-8 in game two and 6-5 in the decisive game three.

Staring down elimination, the Longhorns will need history to repeat itself to advance to their second consecutive Women’s College World Series appearance.

Here is how to watch and listen to game two of the Super Regional matchup:

What: No. 6 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 11 Clemson Tigers

Where: Red and Charline McCombs Field, Austin, TX

When: Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m.

How to Watch: ESPN 2

How to Listen: Sports Radio AM 1300 The Zone, SiriusXM 84