# SEC Evening Report: Alabama Eyes WCWS Finals as Texas Punches Its Ticket **Published:** 2026-06-01 — **By:** Stacy Stanfield **Category:** daily-roundup — **Type:** daily-roundup **Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/sec-evening-report-alabama-wcws-finals-texas --- ## LEAD STORY: Alabama Plays for a Finals Berth; Texas Already Waiting The Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City has come down to four teams, and the SEC is well represented. The Alabama Crimson Tide enter Monday evening's semifinal against Texas Tech unbeaten in the bracket, having won their first two games at Devon Park to seize control of the double-elimination format. A victory over the Red Raiders sends Alabama straight to the championship series; a loss forces a winner-take-all rematch later in the night. Outfielder Kristen White has been part of Alabama's deep tournament run, including a heads-up dash to second on an errant throw against Nebraska earlier in the event. Texas Tech (59-8, 21-3 Big 12) arrives as the No. 11 national seed and one of the hottest offenses in the country. Leadoff hitter Mia Williams is batting .440 with 25 home runs, 84 RBIs and a .935 slugging percentage, while two-way standout Kaitlyn Terry (24-2, 1.71 ERA) hits .443 with 57 RBIs when she isn't in the circle. Ace NiJaree Canady (27-6, 1.91 ERA) and Terry share No. 1 duties, giving the Red Raiders a flexible but inconsistent postseason rotation — neither has logged a complete game in the bracket. Waiting in the championship series is the No. 2 Texas Longhorns. Per D1Softball, Teagan Kavan tossed a two-hit shutout Monday as Texas swept Tennessee with a 4-0 win to advance, completing a 5-2 and 4-0 elimination of the Lady Vols. Texas now sits one round from a title, with the Alabama–Texas Tech winner standing between the Longhorns and a best-of-three crown. ## QUICK HITS - **Texas catcher earns national honor.** Longhorns junior Carson Tinney, a first-year starter after transferring from Notre Dame, is a finalist for the Buster Posey Award given to college baseball's top catcher — his second straight year as a finalist. Tinney sits fifth all-time at Texas with 21 home runs this season and was named second-team All-SEC. - **Randall Cobb on the Hall of Fame ballot.** The former Kentucky Wildcats star is among 80 FBS players named to the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot. The Alcoa, Tennessee native set the SEC single-season all-purpose yardage record (2,396 yards in 2010) and holds Kentucky's career touchdown record with 37. - **Tennessee softball's season ends.** The No. 7 Lady Vols came into Monday unbeaten in the bracket but were eliminated by Texas in back-to-back losses, falling 5-2 and 4-0 to close their WCWS run. - **Texas baseball advances.** No. 6 Texas captured the Austin Regional with a 6-4 win over UC Santa Barbara, following a 16-2 rout of Tarleton State and a 19-1 demolition of Holy Cross. - **2026 football kickoff is set.** Per NCAA.com, the FBS season opens Saturday, Aug. 29, with FCS getting underway two days earlier on Thursday, Aug. 27. ## PORTAL WATCH No SEC transfer portal entries or commitments crossed the wire in the last 12 hours. Around the edges of the conference, reports noted Texas outfielder Will Hill and Mizzou pitcher Keyler Gonzalez entering the portal, but no new SEC additions were confirmed in this window. We'll update as names firm up. ## RECRUITING BUZZ No new commitments were logged tonight, though the recruiting trail stayed active. Roll 'Bama Roll reported Alabama landed a 2027 four-star running back in Nigel Newkirk, and Texas hosted a heavy official-visit weekend featuring several of the nation's top defensive prospects. Expect the board to move as June visits accelerate. ## GAMES TO WATCH All eyes are on Devon Park in Oklahoma City. Monday's marquee matchup is **Alabama vs. Texas Tech** at the evening semifinal slot on ESPN, with a potential winner-take-all rematch later the same night if the Red Raiders force it. The stakes are simple: the survivor faces **Texas** in the WCWS championship series, a best-of-three for the national title. With Kavan rolling for the Longhorns and Alabama unbeaten in the bracket, an all-or-nothing SEC-vs-Texas finale is very much in play. --- *Original article: [SEC Evening Report: Alabama Eyes WCWS Finals as Texas Punches Its Ticket](https://secscouts.com/news/sec-evening-report-alabama-wcws-finals-texas) — SEC Scouts*