Texas softball has emphatic reaction to earning No. 1 overall seed for first time in program history
The Texas softball team made history on Sunday by earning the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Softball Tournament. It marked the first time the program had ever achieved the top seed in the 28 seasons since the school started competing in the sport.
The Longhorns players and coaches received the news during their watch party of the Selection Show on ESPN2, and their excitement was apparent from the moment their name was called. A triumphant cheer filled the room as player jumped and hugged one another in celebration. You can view the moment below.
The Longhorns are paired in a regional with Saint Francis (PA), Northwestern and Siena. They will open NCAA Tournament play against the Saints, who are the No. 4 seed in the regional.
Texas finished this past season 47-7 overall and won the Big 12 regular season championship. They also advanced to the Big 12 Tournament Championship, where they fell 5-1 against rival Oklahoma.
The Longhorns will aim to rectify with their NCAA Tournament performance, as they’ve proven themselves the top team in the country in the eyes of the committee.
NCAA committee chair explains why Texas earned No. 1 seed
NCAA Softball Tournament committee chair Kurt McGuffin, the athletic director at UT-Martin, joined the Selection Show on ESPN2 to explain why Texas stood out. He cited the team’s strength of schedule in the nonconference and the success they had in that stretch as the main reason.
“I think we constantly had Texas in the No. 1 seed,” McGuffin explained. “Sixteen top 25 wins, which is more than anybody else, and their nonconference strength of schedule with a lot of quality wins.”
The Longhorns ranked No. 1 in the country in RPI according to the NCAA’s official website. Six of their seven losses this season have come against teams also ranked inside the top 10. Additionally, they are 6-5 overall against such teams.
Texas is led by Reese Atwood, who is batting .427 with a team-high 22 home runs and 86 RBI. She isn’t the only big hitter in the Longhorns lineup, however, as five players are batting over .380. The Longhorns leading the nation with an overall batting averaging of .383.
Katie Stewart and and Kayden Henry are also names to watch with 20 homers between them.
As far as pitcher, Texas has the country’s No. 7 overall ERA at 1.80. Teagan Kavan leads the way with 101.1 innings pitched this season to record 101 strikeouts with a 2.00 ERA. Citaly Gutierrez is second on the team with 55 strikeouts across 84.2 innings pitched.