Texas softball-Clemson updates, highlights: Longhorns force Game 3 in extra-innings win

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.

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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.