Replay: No. 1 Texas softball beat Texas A&M in game 3, reaches Women’s College World Series

Top-seeded Texas (52-8) finally fended off rival Texas A&M (44-15) in a roller-coaster of a series with a 6-5 win in the third and final game of the NCAA Tournament Super Regional series Sunday at McCombs Field.

Up next for the Longhorns? The Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City later this week. The complete schedule and bracket of the WCWS will soon be released by the NCAA.

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Final: Texas 6, Texas A&M 5

Nothing comes easy in this series. The Aggies leave two on as freshman pitcher Teagan Kavan and the Longhorns hold on for a wild win in a wild, wild series. Next stop, the Women’s College World Series - Thomas Jones

Top 7: Texas 6, Texas A&M 5

There has to be drama in this series, right? Julia Cottrill launches a 3-run homer with one out for the Aggies - Thomas Jones

End 6: Texas 6, Texas A&M 2

You gotta feel for Aggie ace Emiley Kennedy, who has thrown more than 260 pitches this series. Her arm looks dead, and the Texas A&M season is close to dead. Now, it's up to Texas freshman pitcher Teagan Kavan and the deep Longhorn staff to earn the hardest-fought of berth there can be in the Women's College World Series.

Bottom 6: Texas 6, Texas A&M 2

Aggie ace Emiley Kennedy came in to quiet the Texas bats, but the Longhorns have had enough of the lanky lefty. Leighann Goode scores as a pinch-runner after Texas A&M's second error, Mia Scott bloops an RBI single into center, Vivi Martinez launches a RBI triple into right, and the Longhorns have a little insurance. -- Thomas Jones

Middle 6: Texas 3, Texas A&M 2

After a questionable hit batter call loaded the bags with one out, Texas freshman Teagan Kavan fans back-to-back Aggies. That sequence is why she's the Big 12 freshman of the year and the Longhorns' best pitcher. Huge moment for Kavan. -- Thomas Jones

Top 6: Texas 3, Texas A&M 2

After yet another hit from Texas nemesis Trinity Cannon and a throwing error by pitcher Mac Morgan on a bunt attempt by Julia Cottrell, the Longhorns get in some trouble. Cannon scores on a fielder's choice, and Texas coach Mike White is bringing in freshman flame-thrower Teagan Kavan, who worked 4.1 innings after starting last game. The book on Morgan: 5.1 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 K, 0 BBs. -- Thomas Jones

End 5: Texas 3, Texas A&M 1

Aggie pitcher Emily Leavitt enters the game and promptly plunks Reese Atwood then walks Joley Mitchell. With two outs and the bases juiced, Leavitt forces Katie Stewart into a soft grounder and Aggieland breathes a sigh of relief. -- Thomas Jones

Bottom 5: Texas 3, Texas A&M 1

Stunned A&M has stuck with starter Shaylee Ackerman this long. I'm guessing after 254 pitches, ace Emiley Kennedy just might not have much left in the tank. Emily Leavitt now in the circle for A&M. -- Kirk Bohls

Bottom 5: Texas 3, Texas A&M 1

With two outs, Texas' Mia Scott launches a rocket over the centerfield wall. The umpires gathered for a chat, just to cause some anxiety for the home crowd, I'm sure. But the run stands. - Thomas Jones

Middle 5: Texas 2, Texas A&M 1

Mike White's faith in Mac Morgan appears well justified. She's now retired eight straight Aggie batters and mostly keeping the struck balls on the ground. Texas has really done a good job keeping A&M's leadoff batters off base. In five innings, only one Aggie leadoff batter has reached, and Trinity Cannon was stranded at second. -- Kirk Bohls

End 4: Texas 2, Texas A&M 1

Shaylee Ackermann hasn't had a ton of innings especially since the start of SEC play, but she's throwing a nice game. Kayden Henry, Texas' fastest player, legs out an infield single but that's all. Texas has four hits through four innings. - Thomas Jones

Middle 4: Texas 2, Texas A&M 1

Yes, Texas shortstop Vivi Martinez made an error early in the game. But she just gunned down Allie Enright from deep, deep in the hole. There's not many shortstops in the country with that arm talent, and it's one reason she's played with the U.S. junior national team. - Thomas Jones

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End 3: Texas 2, Texas A&M 1

Texas gets a lead for the first time after three. How will Longhorns coach Mike White handle his pitchers with the lead? We'll find out; he has a lot of options. - Thomas Jones

Bottom 3: Texas 2, Texas A&M 1

Hey, mambo, the Longhorns get on the board. A double by Bella Dayton, an error by Aggie second baseman Rylen Wiggins and some hustle on a wild pitch from Dayton, who scores from third on a wild pitch for Texas' first run. Vivi Martinez then launches a double to the gap to score Ashton Maloney. The Horns are heating up. - Thomas Jones

More: As expected, Texas and Texas A&M softball delivers big hits, drama and fireworks | Bohls

Middle 3: Texas A&M 1, Texas 0

Third baseman Mia Scott with a defensive gem to help Texas avoid a lotta trouble. She handles a hot shot from Julia Cottrell down the third-base line, tags third to get the runner at second, then fires a bullet to first for the double play. That's how you escape two on with no outs. - Thomas Jones

End 2: Texas A&M 1, Texas 0

Texas coach Mike White doesn't run for catcher Reese Atwood early in the game, and it came into play on a scorcher by Katie Stewart. Atwood tries to get from first to third on a double off the left-field wall but she's caught by 2 feet. - Thomas Jones

Middle 2: Texas A&M 1, Texas 0

Much less drama for Texas pitcher Mac Morgan that inning although she did give up a 2-out single. Slow starts have stymied the Longhorns in the first two games of this series; let's see if they can shake off those early-inning doldrums at the plate. - Thomas Jones

End 1: Texas A&M 1, Texas 0

Shaylee Ackermann had no problems in her first go at the Texas lineup. Three up, three down for the Horns,. Let's see if Texas settles down after two errors and two hits allowed in the opening frame. Mac Morgan is a contract, groundball hitter; she leans heavily on her defense. - Thomas Jones

Middle 1: Texas A&M 1, Texas 0

Texas might want to consider walking Cannon the rest of the super regional. She now has eight RBI for A&M on three homers and a double. Texas not showing much poise but Morgan escapes with no more damage as Texas A&M leaves two on. - Kirk Bohls

Top 1: Texas A&M 1, Texas 0

An error on Texas shortstop Vivi Martinez allows Koko Wooley to get on base, and Trinity Cannon follows with a 1-out RBI double. With her three homers this series, Cannon has been a Bevo killer. With runners on the corners and two outs, Morgan is getting a chat from the Texas coaching staff. - Thomas Jones

Leighann Goode gets start at 2B for Texas

A lineup change at second for Texas coach Mike White, who goes with sophomore Leighann Goode instead of Alyssa Washington. Goode is hitting .253 with 19 runs and 18 RBIs in 75 at-bats while Washington is a .355 hitter in 155 at-bats with 43 runs and 31 RBIs. Both are stellar defenders. - Thomas Jones

Texas coach Mike White gambling with Mac Morgan?

Could be another gamble by Mike White not to go with freshman ace Teagan Kavan, who is a strikeout pitcher, and instead go with contact pitcher Mac Morgan and her great drop ball. -- Kirk Bohls

Mac Morgan gets start for Texas; Aggies start Shaylee Ackermann

Veteran Mac Morgan will get her first of the super regionals for Texas while Texas A&M will turn to Shaylee Ackermann after ace Emiley Kennedy has thrown 254 pitches over the previous two games. Morgan, a junior, has thrown 93.1 innings this season and has a 14-1 record with a 2.03 ERA along with 37 strikeouts and 22 walks. In her last start, she threw a no-hitter against Siena in the first game of the NCAA Tournament. Ackermann has an 8-1 record with a 2.89 record in 14 starts and 75 total innings. She's a contact hitter with just 49 strikeouts. - Thomas Jones

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Replay: No. 1 Texas softball beat Texas A&M, reaches Women’s World Series