“She’s strong as an ox.” The words from Texas coach Mike White, delivered after Katie Stewart launched a three-run moon shot against national player of the year Jordy Frahm, have become the defining description of the Longhorns’ slugger. That single swing against Nebraska not only kept Texas' season alive but also underscored a power that has become legendary, even within her own family.

Stewart's record-breaking 28th home run of the season, followed by two more against Tennessee to clinch a spot in the championship finals, has propelled the defending national champions to the brink of another Women's College World Series title. Her ability to deliver in high-pressure moments, often with minimal contact, is reshaping expectations for what a collegiate hitter can achieve.

The Moon Shot That Changed Everything

On Sunday, the stakes were immense. Nebraska’s Jordy Frahm, the national player of the year, had held Texas hitless through five innings. The Longhorns' season hung by a thread. Then, in the sixth, Jaycie Nichols and Kayden Henry managed back-to-back singles, bringing Stewart to the plate. The moment demanded a hero.

Stewart, who admits she can "get in my head sometimes," focused on keeping her heart rate down. "Be present one pitch at a time, knowing I was going to get something I could hit, knowing I had to get on it," she recounted. She got there. Stewart drove Frahm's pitch for a three-run homer, a blast her sister Danielle, watching from Illinois, described as absolutely destroyed. It was Stewart's 28th homer of the season, a new Texas record, and it secured a 3-1 victory, eliminating Nebraska.

A Lifetime of Prodigious Power

Stewart’s strength isn’t a recent development. Growing up playing whiffle ball in a Chicago suburb, she consistently out-hit the neighborhood boys, launching "moon shots" that dwarfed theirs, according to her sister Danielle. Her father, Lance Stewart, realized the extent of her uncommon power when Katie was just 13. Weighing around 260 pounds at the time, he dared her to do a pushup with him lying on her back. "You ain't going to get up," he told her. She did, pushing him up with what he described as "no effort."

This raw power has translated directly to the collegiate field. Coach White jokes that Stewart has even damaged the building behind left field at Texas' Red & Charline McCombs Field with her homers. "Her exit velocity is really high," White noted. "She doesn't need to hit all of it. She just needs to get enough of it — and it's going to go."

From Freshman All-American to SEC Player of the Year

Stewart has been a cornerstone of the Texas lineup since her arrival in Austin. She earned freshman All-America honors in 2024 and quickly became a key middle-of-the-order bat during the Longhorns' championship run last season. Now, as the SEC Player of the Year, she leads Texas in batting average (.424) and RBIs (75), establishing herself as one of the most feared hitters in the country.

Her dominance extends even to family matchups. On February 15, Danielle Stewart, pitching for Northern Illinois, faced her sister. Danielle threw a curveball off the plate, trying to outsmart her. "Boom, it was gone," Danielle recalled, as Katie drove it to right-center for a two-run homer.

Stewart’s recent performances against Nebraska and Tennessee underscore her growth beyond just raw power. She's developed the mental fortitude to stay present in critical moments, a crucial element for any elite athlete. This combination of innate strength and refined approach makes her an almost unstoppable force.

Key Takeaways

  • Katie Stewart's 28th home run set a new Texas record, eliminating Nebraska from the WCWS and keeping the Longhorns' season alive.
  • Her prodigious strength, noted by coaches and family, allows her to hit "moon shots" even on imperfect contact, with high exit velocity.
  • As SEC Player of the Year, Stewart leads Texas in batting average and RBIs, proving her all-around offensive dominance and leadership.

The Women's College World Series championship series now looms. For Katie Stewart, the challenge is clear: to replicate her record-setting power against the nation's best pitching one last time, and in doing so, secure Texas' second consecutive national title. The next few games will define whether her legendary strength culminates in another championship trophy.