# SEC Evening Report: Stewart's Blast Lifts Texas to Another WCWS Semifinal **Published:** 2026-05-31 — **By:** Stacy Stanfield **Category:** daily-roundup — **Type:** daily-roundup **Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/stewart-blast-texas-wcws-semifinal-nebraska --- ## LEAD STORY: Katie Stewart Keeps Texas Alive in Oklahoma City Katie Stewart turned a pitchers' duel into a celebration. The No. 2 Texas Longhorns trailed in an elimination game until Stewart launched a three-run home run in the sixth inning, lifting Texas to a 3-1 win over No. 4 Nebraska and a spot in the Women's College World Series national semifinals. For most of the night, runs were impossible to come by. Texas right-hander Teagan Kavan matched the Cornhuskers pitch for pitch in a tense back-and-forth that left both dugouts waiting for one swing to decide it. That swing belonged to Stewart, whose sixth-inning blast broke up a no-hit bid and flipped the game in an instant, per D1Softball and NCAA.com. The victory sends the Longhorns back to the WCWS national semifinals for the third straight year — an emphatic statement of staying power for a program that keeps finding itself among the last teams standing. Texas now turns its attention to the next round, carrying the momentum of a season-saving rally onto college softball's biggest stage. ## QUICK HITS - **Texas Rowing claims another national crown:** The Texas Longhorns captured their fourth NCAA rowing championship in the last six years, with the I Eight and I Four boats winning individual national titles and the II Eight finishing second, according to school sites. - **No. 6 Texas baseball eyes a super regional:** After blowout wins over Holy Cross and Tarleton State, the No. 6 Longhorns reached the Austin Regional final. Senior right-hander Ruger Riojas gets the ball, with a deep, well-rested bullpen behind him and an offense that slugged 11 home runs across two games — including four from freshman left fielder Anthony Pack Jr., who set a school postseason record with three against Holy Cross. - **Alabama adds a forward:** The Alabama Crimson Tide bolstered their women's basketball roster with the addition of former Long Beach State forward Mykelle Richards, the program announced. - **Oklahoma's Jason Walk sets the tone:** The Oklahoma Sooners got an early jolt from Jason Walk, who detailed to ESPN how his leadoff home run against Citadel sparked the offense and kept his mindset locked in through a win over the Bulldogs. - **Arkansas in regional action:** The Arkansas Razorbacks faced Northeastern in postseason play, with full game highlights available via ESPN. ## PORTAL WATCH No transfer portal activity to report over the last 12 hours. With postseason baseball and softball commanding the spotlight, the portal stayed quiet across the SEC. We'll update as moves develop. ## RECRUITING BUZZ No new commitments crossed the wire tonight. The recruiting trail was silent during this window, but check back as programs continue building their classes. ## GAMES TO WATCH All eyes turn to Austin, where the No. 6 Texas Longhorns host the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in the Austin Regional final at 5 p.m. Central on ESPN+. Texas needs to win Sunday and again Monday to punch its ticket to the super regional round — but history is on its side, as teams that open a regional 2-0 advance roughly 75 percent of the time. The Gauchos arrive as a serious test. UC Santa Barbara reached the final with a 9-5 win over Tarleton State and still holds back senior right-hander Kellan Montgomery (8-4, 4.06 ERA), who has limited opponents to a .243 average. The Gauchos entered the regional ranked among the national top 10 in ERA, hits allowed per nine innings, and WHIP, with seven pitchers recording saves this season. Texas counters with a lineup riding a serious power surge and a bullpen Jim Schlossnagle has kept fresh through two lopsided wins. If the Longhorns can avoid falling behind early against Montgomery, they'll be one win away from a super regional berth. --- *Original article: [SEC Evening Report: Stewart's Blast Lifts Texas to Another WCWS Semifinal](https://secscouts.com/news/stewart-blast-texas-wcws-semifinal-nebraska) — SEC Scouts*