Texas Beats Texas Tech in Game 1 of 2025 College Softball World Series Finals Bracket

Texas sure seems to have Texas Tech's number this season.

The Longhorns survived a pitching duel in Game 1 of the College Softball World Series on Wednesday night, beating the Red Raiders 2-1 behind Reese Atwood's two-out single in the bottom of the sixth.

The Longhorns are now 3-0 against Texas Tech in the 2025 season.

Texas' Teagan Kavan was fantastic on the evening, out-dueling NiJaree Canady. The Texas pitcher gave up just one run on three hits, one walk and three strikeouts, while Candady (two runs on four hits, no walks and seven strikeouts) was fantastic outside of the decisive sixth inning. Both pitchers went the distance.

The game truly got interesting in the top of the fifth, when Logan Halleman reached first base on an error and attempted to steal second but appeared to be easily gunned down. However, a replay review determined that shortstop Leighann Goode committed obstruction on the play and Halleman was given the base.

Mihyia Davis then singled in Halleman with two outs, giving Texas Tech the game's first run.

But Kayden Henry and Mia Scott each reached base in the bottom of the sixth on singles and each stole a base, setting up Atwood's clutch single when Canady didn't properly executive an intentional walk. That proved to be the game's decisive moment, as Kavan closed out the game in the seventh.

This series isn't over, with Game 2 of the potential three-game tilt on Thursday. But the Red Raiders have yet to solve this Texas team and now need to beat the Longhorns two times in a row.

The winner of Game 1 of the CSWS has gone on to win the title nearly 80 percent of the time, as noted on ESPN's broadcast, so the Longhorns are in fantastic position. Texas Tech's chances of solving Kavan—something few teams have done—and getting the Texas monkey off their backs are starting to feel like a long shot.