Texas Softball vs. Alabama: April 2, 2026, at Rhoads Stadium

No. 1 Texas defeated No. 5 Alabama 9-1 on April 2, 2026, in the opening game of a three-game series held at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The victory for the Longhorns, the defending national champions, was driven by a dominant pitching performance and a power-hitting display that saw four different players go yard.

Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan earned the win, improving her record to 14-1. Kavan led the Longhorns’ defense by recording nine strikeouts over the course of the game. On the opposite side, Alabama pitcher Jocelyn Briski took the loss, moving her record to 13-1.

Texas Offensive Surge

The Longhorns established an early lead and maintained offensive pressure throughout the contest. Leighann Goode provided a significant portion of the offense, hitting two home runs and recording four RBIs. Viviana Martinez and Katie Stewart also contributed home runs to the 9-1 final score.

Texas began the scoring in the first inning when Viviana Martinez hit a home run to center field for an RBI. The lead expanded in the third inning as Leighann Goode hit a two-run home run to right center, scoring Jaycie Nichols.

The fourth inning proved pivotal for Texas. Ashton Maloney hit a single up the middle that drove in both Alisa Sneed and Adayah Wallace for two RBIs. Shortly after, Marlie Giles added to the lead with an RBI single that brought in Alexis Pupillo.

Texas continued to build its advantage in the subsequent frames. In the fifth inning, Leighann Goode hit her second home run of the game, a solo shot to center field. The sixth inning saw Goode record an RBI via a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Kaiah Altmeyer, followed by an RBI double to left center by Viviana Martinez, which scored Kayden Henry.

The scoring concluded in the seventh inning when Katie Stewart hit a solo home run to left field.

Alabama Performance and Series Standings

The Crimson Tide, ranked in the top five entering the series, struggled to find offensive momentum against Kavan. Alabama managed only one run during the game. Following the loss, Alabama’s record moved to 33-3 overall and 7-3 in the SEC, while Texas improved to 32-2 overall and 9-1 in the SEC.

This matchup represented a high-stakes encounter between two of the top programs in college softball. According to the series guide provided by Alabama Athletics, the meeting at Rhoads Stadium was billed as a top-five matchup featuring the defending national champion Longhorns.

Remaining Series Schedule

The three-game series continues in Tuscaloosa with two remaining contests. Game 2 is scheduled for April 3, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. CT, with coverage provided by the SEC Network.

The series finale, Game 3, will take place on April 4, 2026, at 5 p.m. CT. This final game will be broadcast on ESPN.