It was looking like the end of the road to the Texas Longhorns softball season. The defending national champions, facing elimination in Game 2 of the NCAA Super Regional to Arizona State, got a pinch-hit two-run go-ahead home run from Victoria Hunter to extend the series to a final third game.
The Horns were down to their final four outs of the season when Hunter’s home run, which also scored outfielder Ashton Maloney, saved the day and keeps the dream of back-to-back national titles alive.
Arizona State took Game 1 of the series 4-3 on Friday night to put Texas on the brink of elimination. The Sun Devils had the lead for much of Game 2 as well, going up 2-0 in the third inning.
Katie Stewart started the UT rally in the top of the fifth inning, plating Kaiah Altmeyer with an RBI double to left. Later in the inning, Reese Atwood would tie the game with an RBI single.
But ASU struck right back with a homer to center field from Sun Devils hot-hitting catcher Samantha Swan. The Georgetown, Texas native went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored.
UT ace Teagan Kavan struggled again, a concern going forward, allowing two runs through two innings. But Citlaly Gutierrez came in the game in the third inning and pitched well the rest of the way, only giving up the solo shot to Swan.
Texas’ win forces a winner-take-all Game 3 Sunday at Red & Charline McCombs Field at 3:30 p.m. CT.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Late Longhorns go-ahead HR evens Super Regional with Arizona State