OKLAHOMA CITY – In the second game of the day of the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Softball Championship, No. 2-seeded Texas overcame a four-run deficit entering the sixth inning to defeat No. 7-seeded Texas Tech 7-6 in eight innings at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

The Red Raiders started strong, led by outfielder Peyton Blythe, who finished 3-for-3 on the day with three RBI, a walk and two doubles. Her two doubles are tied for the most by a player in a single game in Championship history.

Texas responded in the second inning as its first two batters reached base. Katie Cimusz reached on a leadoff walk before Vanessa Quiroga doubled to right center to bring Cimusz home and cut into the lead, 2-1. Three batters later, Texas tied it up on a throwing error as Alyssa Popelka secured the unearned run.

The Red Raiders countered immediately as Blythe led the fourth inning off with her second hit of the game followed by a Kennedy Crites single up the middle to put runners on the corners. Blythe was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice before Riley Love regained the lead with a two-run blast to left field.

Texas Tech stretched its lead to 6-2 in the fifth inning as Blythe tallied her second double of the day to plate Jacee Hamlin.

With only six outs left, the Longhorns closed the gap with a two-run homer by Bella Dayton down the right-field line in the bottom of the sixth. Cimusz and Quiroga followed that with back-to-back solo shots to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning to even the game at 6 and force extra innings.

The Red Raiders threatened in the eighth inning as Demi Elder advanced to third to put runners on the corners before an inning-ending ground out put the Longhorns back at the plate.

Texas put its first two batters on before Viviana Martinez recorded a sac bunt to advance both runners into scoring position. The Longhorns loaded the bases as Cimusz was hit by a pitch before a wild pitch brought the game-winning run to the plate to put the Longhorns through to the semifinals.

Texas (41-12-1) will take on the winner of No. 3 seed Oklahoma State and No. 6 seed Kansas in the semifinals on Friday, May 12 at 4 p.m. CT on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
 


 
2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Softball Championship Schedule

First Round – Thursday, May 11
10 a.m.	Game 1: No. 5 Iowa State 8, No. 4 Baylor 1	Box Score
12:30 p.m.	Game 2: No. 2 Texas 7, No. 7 Texas Tech 6 (8 inn.)	Big 12 Now on ESPN+
3 p.m.	Game 3: No. 3 Oklahoma State vs. No. 6 Kansas	Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Semifinals – Friday, May 12
1 p.m.	Game 4: No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 5 Iowa State	ESPNU
4 p.m.	Game 5: No. 2 Texas vs. Game 3 winner	Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Final – Saturday, May 13
2 p.m.	Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner	ESPN2

Times listed as Central. Times and television network designations are subject to change.