For the first time in Women’s College World Series history, an unseeded team will play for the national championship as the No. 14 Texas Longhorns won a sixth elimination game in the NCAA Tournament, pulling off an unlikely comeback from a 5-0 deficit in a 6-5 win over the Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Monday evening in Oklahoma City.
Facing its sixth elimination game of the postseason, Texas didn’t respond well in the bottom of the first inning. Back in the circle, left-hander Estelle Czech allowed a leadoff single, the runner stole second base and advanced to third when shortstop Alyssa Washington couldn’t field the throw from catcher Mary Iakopo, a mistake compounded by second baseman Janae Jefferson not backing up the throw, and scored when Washington made a late decision to throw home on a ground ball that was not in time.