Texas' Joley Mitchell hits 2 homers to beat Florida in WCWS opener - ESPN

OKLAHOMA CITY — Joley Mitchell homered twice and Teagan Kavan allowed only two hits to lead sixth-seeded Texas past No. 3 seed Florida 3-0 on Thursday to open play at the Women's College World Series.

Mitchell homered in the second and sixth innings off Florida ace Keagan Rothrock, becoming the first Texas player to hit multiple home runs at the WCWS.

«Kind of a clean slate for me,» said Mitchell, who didn't face Rothrock in last year's WCWS game between the teams. «I knew I needed to be on time, and that's kind of just the forefront of my thoughts.»

Texas (52-11) will play the winner of Thursday's game between Oklahoma and Tennessee on Saturday. Florida (48-16) will play the Oklahoma-Tennessee loser on Friday in an elimination game.

Kavan tossed her third shutout in two years of WCWS action at Devon Park.

«I mean, it's the place to be,» Kavan said. «There's no other place I would rather be. A lot of people would give a lot to be here. So I'm grateful to be here to give my all for my teammates and come out with some wins for us.»

Back-to-back home runs by Mitchell and Katie Stewart in the sixth ended Rothrock's day. She was pulled after throwing 105 pitches. Three of the five hits she allowed were home runs.

Teams that have gone on to win the national championship after losing Game 1 of the Women's College World Series.

Mitchell's first home run traveled 250 feet to left field.

The Gators were hitless through three innings against Kavan, who improved to 25-5. Florida finally broke through in the fourth inning when Korbe Otis lined a base hit off Mitchell's glove at first base.

«I mean, she's a good pitcher,» Otis said. «Everybody that we're going to face at the College World Series is going to be a good pitcher. She just