No. 4 Texas' Blaire Luna struck out 10 to help the Longhorns defeat No. 5 Arizona State, 6-3, in the opening round of the Women's College World Series.
Arizona State (50-11) will play the loser of No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 8 Michigan on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. PT in double-elimination. Texas (49-8) will play the winner.
It wasn't until the top of the fifth that Arizona State's Alix Johnson got the game going with a two-run double to left center to bring home Bailey Wigness and Kayla Ketchum. But Texas fought back with four runs in the bottom to end Arizona State's lead. Brejae Washington and Stephanie Ceo (2-for-3) scored on Taylor Thom's RBI double and a throwing error before Kim Bruins hit a two-run homer to left, plating Thom for Texas' 4-2 advantage.
Haley Steele opened the top of the sixth frame with a solo shot down left, bringing ASU within one, before Texas scored the game's final two. Torie Schmidt touched home on Ceo's RBI bunt and Taylor Hoagland hit an RBI double to plate Rachel Scott.
Cheyenne Coyle (0-for-3) made it to third in the top of the seventh, but Steele popped up to third base to end the game.
Luna (31-5) earned the win tossing 6.0 innings. She walked three, allowed four hits and all three runs were earned. Kim Bruins struck out two, walked one and allowed one hit in 1.0 inning.
Arizona State's Dallas Escobedo fanned five, walked six, allowed six hits, six runs and five earned in 5.1 innings, unusual stats for the 30-5 pitcher. Mackenzie Popescue threw the final 0.2, striking out one and walking one.