The Longhorns continued to lean on their veteran bats in Oklahoma City to stun Tennessee in the do-or-die Women's College World Series semifinals.
The Texas Longhorns are back in the championship series of the Women's College World Series, but this year it was a longer road for the defending champions.
No. 2-seeded Texas clawed its way out of the losers' bracket with back-to-back wins over the 7-seed Tennessee Volunteers on Monday in Oklahoma City.
Tennessee had previously knocked Texas into the bottom bracket, beating the Longhorns 6-3 on Thursday. Since then, Texas has eliminated Mississippi State, Nebraska, and now the Volunteers and their All-American pitching duo.
READ MORE: Texas Shouldn't Fall for Texas Tech's Trap
Game 1 - Atwood, Stewart Homers Make a Statement
All-American catcher Reese Atwood hit her first-career WCWS home run to dead center field in the fourth inning, breaking the scoreless start to the game.
Tennessee threw No. 3 pitcher Erin Nuwer, but eventually turned to first-team All-American Sage Mardjetko. The Texas bats, however, stayed hot. Star first baseman Katie Stewart launched a solo homer that kick-started a three-run fifth inning as Citlaly Gutierrez was strong in the circle for the Longhorns.
Gutierrez was credited with her 10th victory of the season, but it was Teagan Kavan who was called out of the bullpen to slam the door for the final out as the Volunteers brought the game-winning run to the plate with the bases loaded.
Kavan's strikeout forced the "if" game with a 5-2 win.
It was just the beginning of a historic day for the Texas right-hander.
Game 2 - Kavan's Gem Punches Longhorns' Ticket
Tennessee went with the hard-throwing righty Karlyn Pickens, but the Texas offense picked her apart in the bottom of the third inning with three runs.
The offense, once again, came from the veterans. Vivi Martinez singled home a run, then Atwood doubled in another after Martinez stole home.
In the fifth inning, Stewart crushed her second home run of the day and Texas-record 30th of the season.
In the circle, Kavan was masterful with a two-hit shutout. Her strikeout to end the 4-0 win was her 10th of the game, setting a new WCWS career-high.
Kavan, who has only allowed one run in her last 22 innings, completed her fifth career WCWS shutout to pass the legend Cat Osterman for a new Longhorns record.
Texas advances to its third championship series in a row and will defend its national championship against either No. 1-seed Alabama or No. 11 Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders, who were in the champs series a year ago, will need to double-dip the Crimson Tide later Monday evening.
The WCWS championship series begins Wednesday night at Devon Park.
