Texas Softball Adds Lefty Pitcher in Transfer Portal After WCWS Rivalry

LUBBOCK, Texas - Former Texas Tech pitcher Samantha Lincoln has committed to the Texas Longhorns out of the transfer portal.

So, I guess if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Texas took down Lincoln and the Red Raiders in the last two championship series at the Women's College World Series. Now the lefty arm is headed to the winning side of his new softball rivalry.

She comes to Austin with two years of eligibility remaining.

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The Taunton, Mass. native made 25 appearances this season for Texas Tech and recorded a 7-0 record with a 3.47 ERA over 74.2 innings pitched.

Lincoln's last outing came against her new team. In the championship series, Lincoln pitched 3.1 innings of steady ball, but the Longhorns took Game 1 after building an early lead on Kaitlyn Terry and NiJaree Canady. Lincoln allowed two runs on four hits in the outing.

For Texas, the portal addition serves as depth behind superstar pitcher Teagan Kavan, who enters her senior season in 2027 and seeks a three-peat in Oklahoma City.

Kavan's previous backup, Citlaly Gutierrez, has exhausted her eligibility, meaning Lincoln's signing is a major reinforcement of experience in Mike White's pitching staff.

Texas also added former Arizona State catcher Samantha Swan in the transfer portal last week. Swan joins the Longhorns after All-American catcher Reese Atwood moved on to the professional ranks after this season.

In Lubbock, Lincoln likely entered the portal knowing that she could slide back to the No. 3 pitcher spot, which she held this season behind transfer utility star Terry and superstar senior Canady.

As Canady has graduated, Texas Tech went back to the well and signed LSU lefty pitcher Jayden Heavener, who will create a double-barrel lefty duo with Terry.

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This is the second season in a row in which a Red Raiders pitcher joined the Longhorns after the teams squared off in the title match.

Last summer, Texas signed Brenlee Gonzales after she made 12 appearances as a true freshman in 2025. This year, Gonzales pitched 20.1 innings, allowed 19 hits and nine earned runs for a 3.10 earned run average.

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