FAYETTEVILLE — Maybe Arkansas wanted it too much. That's what softball coach Courtney Deifel suspected after the Razorbacks dropped  a 3-1 decision to Texas on Friday to force a decisive game in the super regional. 

Arkansas has never reached the Women's College World Series in its 25 previous seasons. After the Razorbacks' 7-1 win in Game 1, Oklahoma City was within their grasp. 

It remains so, but Deifel said the pressure Arkansas (48-10) might have put on itself to sweep Texas (42-19-1)  could have been a factor in the uncharacteristically quiet bats Friday.

The Razorbacks will need to make some noise in Game 3 on Saturday (3 p.m. CT, ESPN).

 Arkansas made good contact on several pitches, but they were pulled foul or fell short of the fence. The Razorbacks hit 13 fly balls and managed five hits.

"We were stretching the zone a little bit and (were) off-time," Deifel said. "That comes from overthinking. It comes from wanting it too much. This group wants it. What they've done really well is control their emotions, and we just lost sight of that today."

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The Longhorns weren't without emotions. Texas is trying to make its sixth Women's College World Series and first since 2013. But a 20-pitch at-bat ending with a clutch play at second base by Janae Jefferson gave Texas what  it needed to avoid elimination.

Just after Jefferson's play for the third out, Texas hit back-to-back solo home runs, including one by Jefferson.

Texas coach Mike White said that even in the win-or-go-home game in front of 3,170 fans at Bogle Park, the Longhorns "played loose."

"It's always fun to play in that environment," White said. "That's what I was telling our team, to enjoy this moment because it's special."

It will be hard to play loose in Game 3, with rival teams fighting to make it to Oklahoma City. Texas pitcher Hailey Dolcini could take the mound again after throwing more than 535 pitches in the span of seven days. The Razorbacks will need to avoid overthinking at the plate to get back to its usual hot-hitting ways.

"The rubber match is about toughness," she said. "It's about controlling our emotions. If we learn from today, I expect us to be better tomorrow and those area. ...  I expect us to be play a lot more freely tomorrow and play a lot more like the Razorback softball team that everyone loves. And if the result doesn't come our way, then we're at least going to play our ball."

Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks. You can email her at clong@swtimes.com or follow her on Twitter @christinalong00.