Texas
No. 1 Texas softball falls to Oklahoma in Big 12 tournament finals, eyes NCAA fate
After falling to Oklahoma in Saturday’s Big 12 tournament title game, the No. 1 Texas softball team will find out its NCAA fate Sunday when the selection committee unveils its bracket at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
Texas (47-7), the Big 12’s regular-season champion, couldn’t repeat that run during the tournament held in the Sooners’ backyard at Oklahoma City’s Devon Park, but the loss shouldn’t do too much damage to the Longhorns’ seeding hopes. Texas is all but certain to claim a top-eight seed despite Saturday’s 5-1 loss, which ensures that the Longhorns will host the first two weekends of the NCAA Tournament pending an upset loss. Texas won’t have to travel until the College World Series May 30-June 7 back at Devon Park.
More: Reese Atwood earns player of the year award as Texas dominates Big 12 softball awards
The Longhorns still have hopes of claiming the overall top seed, but three-time defending national champion Oklahoma (49-6) – No. 2 in the latest NCAA RPI ranking, just after Texas – made its case behind pitcher Kelly Maxwell, who allowing just one run and two hits and struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings before giving way to reliever Nicole May. Texas had just two hits in the game, including a RBI triple by freshman outfielder Kayden Henry that drove in Joley Mitchell in the second inning.
“Congratulations to Oklahoma on winning the Big 12 Championship, obviously the last time our two teams will be in this conference,” Texas coach Mike White said, referencing this summer’s departure to the SEC for both OU and Texas. “We have to find ways to learn from the adversity today. I thought we had a couple of opportunities. This is a game of inches, and they made the plays, and we didn’t, and that’s what happens. We have to find a way to recoup and learn from that and be ready to go for the postseason.”
More: NCAA softball selection show: Time, TV channel for Texas’ Women’s College World Series bracket reveal
Texas received a strong performance from sophomore pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez, who had a career-high 10 strikeouts while giving up seven hits in a complete game. Only three of her five runs allowed were earned as the Longhorns committed two errors while having their 18-game winning streak snapped.
“I thought Citlaly certainly did not deserve to give up the five runs she gave up,” White said. “She pitched well enough to win the game; had 10 strikeouts against a potent offense and pitched great.”
Mitchell, Bella Dayton and Katie Stewart all earned all-tournament honors, the most for Texas since 2005.
A day off at the pool — and a little sunburn — didn’t stop the Minnesota Twins’ momentum.
Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer as Minnesota scored multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game, and the Twins went on to complete a series sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 9-3 win Thursday.
Minnesota has won four games in a row and scored 25 runs in the three-games series in Texas. The two teams had a rare, mid-series day off on Wednesday with the England-Croatia World Cup game being played in Arlington.
“We’re locked in every day,” Lee told Audra Martin on the team’s broadcast. “Yesterday, taking time off, lay out by the pool, get a little burnt and then right back to it. We did a good job getting focused. I feel like we do that with rain delays, too, just lock back in and we’re doing it.”
Lee’s 12th homer capped a four-run first off Jack Leiter (3-7). Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to straightaway center that just cleared the extended glove of leaping Alejandro Osuna. Larnach’s third hit was an RBI single in the fifth, and Ryan Kriedler hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
Joe Ryan (5-3) struck out seven but needed 97 pitches to get through five scoreless innings while allowing three singles. Leiter was done after the fourth, and has given up 17 runs while losing three starts in a row.
The Twins never trailed in the sweep that extended their winning streak to four, matching their longest this season. Their 14-5 record at Globe Life Field is the best for any American League opponent since the ballpark opened in 2020.
Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran and Justin Foscue hit solo homers for the Rangers, who have lost five of six games. They are 0-15 when giving up multiple runs in the first inning.
Twins DH Josh Bell, who was born in nearby Irving and grew up in the area, had an RBI single before Lee’s homer. Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the series-opening 4-2 win Monday, and had an RBI single for a 2-0 lead in the first of a 12-2 win on Tuesday.
“We’re just passing the baton each time,” Lee said of the offensive output. “Our guys are hot. They feel good and they came out swinging today. It was awesome to see. We’ve done that for a while now.”
Up next
Twins rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA) starts Friday at Arizona. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to start right-hander Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11).
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A Texas state trooper was killed in a crash in the Panhandle, becoming the 244th Texas Department of Public Safety officer to die in the line of duty since 1823, according to the agency.
Sergio Romero, 27, died Wednesday after a semi-truck pulled in front of him as he attempted a traffic stop around 4 p.m. on U.S. 287 in Childress County, DPS said.
In a statement, Col. Freeman F. Martin praised Romero’s courage, integrity, and service.
“Today, we grieve the loss of one of our own,” Martin said. “… Our hearts break alongside his family, friends, fellow troopers, and all who loved him. We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice he made in service of his fellow Texans.”
Romero previously served with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office before joining DPS as part of Class B-2025 in Childress, the agency said.
He is survived by his wife, Francisca, and their two young sons.
Funeral arrangements are pending. The crash remains under investigation.
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