Hannah Wells delivers big 2-run single, Texas knocks off Tennessee 5-2

June 1, 2026 - 19:06

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Texas found itself backed into a corner once again, facing elimination for the fifth time in this NCAA Tournament. But the Longhorns refused to fold, punching back against Tennessee with a 5-2 victory that kept their season alive.

The game remained tight until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Texas finally broke through. With runners on second and third and two outs, Hannah Wells stepped to the plate. She worked the count and then laced a two-run single up the middle, scoring the go-ahead runs and sending the Texas dugout into a frenzy. It was the kind of hit that defines a postseason run -- calm under pressure, precise in execution.

Tennessee had taken an early lead in the top of the first, but Texas answered quickly and then leaned on its pitching staff to hold the line. The Longhorns' defense turned a few key double plays to snuff out Tennessee rallies, and the bullpen worked out of a jam in the sixth to preserve the lead.

Texas added an insurance run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly, making it 5-2. From there, the Longhorns closed it out, forcing a decisive game in the series. For a team that has made a habit of surviving elimination games, this was just another chapter in a gritty, relentless tournament run.