After two knocks on the door, Texas softball finally broke it down at the Women’s College World Series by winning its first national championship against No. 12 Texas Tech.
Following Texas’ 10-4 rout over Texas Tech at Devon Park in Oklahoma City on June 6, Kavan was named the Most Outstanding Player of the WCWS. The West Des Moines, Iowa, native beat out her third baseman Mia Scott − who broke the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth inning with a grand slam − for the award.
‘It means the world. I’m so happy for this team. We did it, first natty, let’s go,’ Kavan told ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the game. ‘My grandma, the last thing she told my brother, one of the last things was to bring home a victory. We did that for her. It’s really so precious.’
The sophomore right-hander set a new WCWS pitching record on June 7, as she threw 31 2/3 scoreless innings across seven outings. In those seven games pitched, Kavan started four of them and was rewarded with the win in each.
Kavan had a heavy heart for much of the WCWS, as she lost her grandmother − who is the reason she wears No. 17 on her jersey − right before Texas’ 4-2 win over No. 2 Oklahoma on May 31.
Teagan Kavan WCWS stats
Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of Kavan’s stats at the WCWS this year:
- vs. No. 3 Florida: 7 innings, 1 strikeout, 2 hits, 2 walks
- vs. No. 2 Oklahoma: 7 innings, 8 strikeouts, 7 hits, 2 walks, 2 runs (0 earned)
- vs. No. 7 Tennessee: 3 innings, 2 strikeouts, 1 walk
- vs. No. 12 Texas Tech (WCWS finals): 7 innings, 3 strikeouts, 3 hits, 1 run (0 earned)
- vs. No. 12 Texas Tech (WCWS finals): 2/3 innings, 1 hit
- vs. No. 12 Texas Tech (WCWS finals): 7 innings, 3 strikeouts, 8 hits, 4 runs (0 earned)