First-year standout Elsa Morrison connected on the initial pitch thrown her way, sending it sailing beyond the center field wall for a three-run blast in the second frame, propelling Tennessee to a 6-3 victory over reigning national champion Texas during Thursday’s Women’s College World Series action in Oklahoma City.
Tennessee pitcher Sage Mardjetko (15-2) earned the victory after delivering four scoreless frames while silencing Texas’s potent offensive attack. Her postseason performance includes 16 strikeouts across 13 2/3 innings pitched.
Texas’s SEC Player of the Year Katie Stewart struggled at the plate, going without a hit in three trips to the batter’s box.
Morrison added a double that bounced off the wall’s top during the sixth inning, finishing 2-for-3 while nearly connecting for her second long ball of the contest.
Tennessee’s Taelyn Holley crossed home plate twice, helping the team get revenge for their 2-0 defeat against Texas in last year’s WCWS semifinal round.
These clutch performances from Morrison are becoming routine. She previously delivered a game-winning homer against Northern Kentucky in regional play and now owns seven round-trippers this campaign.
Texas narrowed the gap to 5-3 during the bottom of the sixth inning. Gold Glove senior catcher and cleanup hitter Reese Atwood put Texas on the scoreboard first, followed by second baseman Leighann Goode’s clutch two-out performance. Goode connected on a two-run blast to center field against Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens, who registered a record-setting 78 mph delivery — equivalent to 109 mph from a major league pitching distance.
Pickens and Tennessee (48-10) will next face Texas Tech and their starter NiJaree Canady on Friday, competing for a semifinal berth. The Red Raiders dominated with an 8-0 victory in five innings during Thursday’s WCWS opener.
Texas will battle Mississippi State in an elimination contest, after Mississippi State managed just two hits and failed to score Thursday against Texas Tech.
