Tag: Karlyn Pickens

Karlyn Pickens named first-team All America

Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens named first-team All America.

Tennessee softball junior pitcher Karlyn Pickens was named preseason All-America by D1Softball.

She also received preseason first-team All-America honors from Softball America.

In addition, Pickens has been named to the D1Softball Top 100, ranking No. 4 in the nation. The Weaverville, North Carolina native also received preseason acclaim from USA Softball, making its top 53 watch list for collegiate player of the year. She was named to Softball America’s Top 100, ranking No. 4.

Pickens (22-7) was a consensus first-team All-America standout as a sophomore following the 2024 campaign. She recorded a 1.12 ERA and was named SEC Pitcher of the Year.

Pickens joined Monica Abbott as the only Lady Vols to earn the SEC honor.

She appeared in 38 contests in 2024, including 27 starts, recording 15 complete games, 12 shutouts, one save and 225 strikeouts.

Pickens’ ERA led the SEC and was third-best nationally.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Karlyn Pickens named preseason All-America

Lady Vols’ junior pitcher Karlyn Pickens named preseason All-America.

Tennessee softball junior pitcher Karlyn Pickens was named preseason All-America by Softball America.

She enters the 2025 season as one of 34 players named to the team.

Pickens (22-7) was a consensus first-team All-America standout as a sophomore following the 2024 campaign. She recorded a 1.12 ERA and was named SEC Pitcher of the Year.

Pickens joined Monica Abbott as the only Lady Vols to earn the SEC honor.

She appeared in 38 contests in 2024, including 27 starts, recording 15 complete games, 12 shutouts, one save and 225 strikeouts.

Pickens’ ERA led the SEC and was third-best nationally.

She is one of three Lady Vols on Softball America’s preseason Top 100 Players list, ranking fourth. Redshirt sophomore outfielder Taylor Pannell (No. 58) and sophomore pitcher Sage Mardjeko (No. 68) are also ranked.

Karlyn Pickens. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Lady Vols’ pitchers earn All-America honors

Tennessee softball pitchers named All-American by NFCA.

Tennessee pitchers Karlyn Pickens and Payton Gottshall earned All-America honors by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association.

Pickens was named First-Team All-American by both D1Softball and Softball America. She becomes the Lady Vols’ second consecutive consensus first-team All-American, and received national honors from the NFCA.

Pickens (22-7) recorded a 1.12 ERA. She appeared in 38 games for the Lady Vols, making 27 starts. Pickens pitched 15 complete games, 12 shutouts and one save, while totaling 225 strikeouts.

Gottshall (20-5) received third-team All-America honors from NFCA. She was named second-team All-America by both D1Softball and Softball America.

Gottshall appeared in 35 games and made 20 starts for the Lady Vols in 2024. She recorded eight complete games, three shutouts and three saves.

Lady Vols shut out Virginia to win Knoxville Regional

Tennessee shuts out Virginia softball to win the Knoxville Regional.

No. 3 overall seed Tennessee (43-10, 19-5 SEC) defeated Virginia (34-20, 15-9 ACC), 6-0, to win the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional on Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

The victory over the Cavaliers clinched the Lady Vols’ 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament Super Regional.

The Lady Vols will host No. 14 overall seed Alabama in next week’s best-of-three Knoxville Super Regional.

Rylie West went 3-for-4 for Tennessee on Sunday She recorded one solo home run, one double, three runs and five RBIs.

Karlyn Pickens (21-6) pitched seven innings against the Cavaliers. She allowed two hits and one walk, while recording seven strikeouts. Pickens recorded 74 pitches, including 50 strikes.

Randy Sartin/USA TODAY Network

Lady Vols defeat Dayton to open NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional

Karlyn Pickens pitches a complete shutout for Tennessee against Dayton.

No. 3 overall seed Tennessee (41-10, 19-5 SEC) defeated Dayton (33-20, 19-7 A-10), 3-0, on Friday in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Destiny Rodriguez went 1-for-3 and recorded two RBIs, while Taylor Pannell went 1-for-3 and scored one run for the Lady Vols.

Sophia Nugent also went 1-for-2 and recorded one RBI for Tennessee.

Karlyn Pickens (20-6) started and pitched a complete game for the Lady Vols. She recorded 12 strikeouts, while totaling 76 pitches (59 strikes).

Tennessee will next play on Saturday against Virginia (33-18, 15-9 ACC) in a winners bracket game. First pitch is slated for noon EDT at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

The Cavaliers defeated Miami University, 7-0, on Friday.

https://x.com/Vol_Softball/status/1791572138320891990

Karen Weekly named SEC Coach of the Year

Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly named SEC Coach of the Year for a second consecutive season.

Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly was named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year by the league’s softball head coaches.

Weekly guided the Lady Vols (40-10, 19-5 SEC) to a second consecutive regular-season conference title in 2024. She earned SEC Coach of the Year honors for a second consecutive season and for the fourth time during her tenure at Tennessee.

The Lady Vols were eliminated by LSU in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals Thursday.

Tennessee, ranked No. 2 nationally, will learn its NCAA Tournament opponent and destination on Sunday.

Lady Vols’ sophomore Karlyn Pickens was named SEC Pitcher of the Year. She joins Monica Abbott as the only Tennessee player to earn the award.

Tennessee players were also recognized as First-Team All-SEC standouts including Pickens, Payton Gottshall, McKenna Gibson, Taylor Pannell and Rylie West.

Kiki Milloy, Sophia Nugent and Zaida Puni all received Second-Team All-SEC honors for the Lady Vols.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

LSU eliminates Lady Vols from SEC Tournament

LSU softball eliminates the Lady Vols from the SEC Tournament.

No. 8 seed LSU (40-14, 12-12 SEC) defeated No. 1 seed Tennessee (40-10, 19-5 SEC), 2-1, in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals Thursday at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Alabama.

LSU’s victory denies the Lady Vols a second consecutive tournament title and becomes the first team to defeat Tennessee twice this season.

LSU led, 1-0, in the first inning as Tennessee starting pitcher Karlyn Pickens allowed three walks. Ali Newland hit an RBI single.

The Tigers extended their advantage to, 2-0, in the fifth inning.

Tennessee scored its lone run of the game in the fifth inning and pulled to within, 2-1, when Sophia Nugent hit an RBI single.

Nugent went 1-for-3 and recorded one RBI, while McKenna Gibson went 1-for-3 for the Lady Vols, who stranded nine runners in the contest.

Pickens (19-6) started for Tennessee. She pitched five innings, allowing one run, four hits and three walks. She recorded four strikeouts and totaled 87 pitches.

Payton Gottshall pitched two innings before Pickens re-entered. Gottshall pitched two innings. She allowed one run, three hits and one walk. Gottshall recorded one strikeout and totaled 53 pitches.

Lady Vols sweep Kentucky to conclude regular-season

Taylor Pannell hits walk-off home run to lift Tennessee past Wildcats.

No. 3 Tennessee (40-9, 19-5 SEC) defeated No. 25 Kentucky (30-20, 8-16 SEC), 8-7 in eight innings Saturday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

The Lady Vols won the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship for a second consecutive year. Tennessee also won all eight of its conference series in 2024. Tennessee enters this weeks SEC Tournament with a three-game win streak.

The Lady Vols needed a walk-off home run from Taylor Pannell to complete the sweep against the Wildcats.

Pannell went 3-for-5. She hit a solo home run and recorded three RBIs and one run. Kiki Milloy went 2-for-3 and hit a solo home run to lead off the game for the Lady Vols. She recorded three runs, one RBI and one walk.

Karlyn Pickens (19-5) pitched 3.1 innings in relief for Tennessee. She allowed three runs, five hits and one walk, while recording four strikeouts.

Ryleigh White started and pitched 1.1 innings for Tennessee. She allowed two runs, three hits and one walk before being relieved by Payton Gottshall.

Randy Sartin/USA TODAY Network

Lady Vols defeat Kentucky to win eighth SEC series

Tennessee softball defeats Wildcats to win SEC series.

No. 3 Tennessee (39-9, 18-5 SEC) defeated No. 25 Kentucky (30-19, 8-15 SEC), 8-3, Friday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

With the win, the Lady Vols clinched the series and have now won all eight SEC series this season.

Tennessee overcame a, 3-0, deficit in the contest.

Lady Vols’ leadoff hitter and center fielder Kiki Milloy went 1-for-4. She hit a three-run home run, while Taylor Pannell went 2-for-4. She hit a two-run home run.

Karlyn Pickens (18-5) pitched four innings of relief for the Lady Vols. She recorded five strikeouts.

Payton Gottshall started and pitched three innings for Tennessee. She allowed three runs and five hits, while recording three strikeouts.

Lady Vols defeat Kentucky to open final SEC series

Lady Vols defeat Kentucky to open final SEC softball series.

No. 3 Tennessee (38-9, 17-5 SEC) defeated No. 24 Kentucky (30-19, 8-14), 8-3, Thursday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

The Lady Vols overcame an early deficit as Kentucky led, 1-0, in the third inning. Tennessee hit three home runs in the contest.

Taylor Pannell went 2-for-4. She hit a three-run home run and recorded three RBIs. Rylie West went 1-for-4 and hit a solo home run for the Lady Vols.

Sophia Nugent also went 2-for-4 and hit one home run.

Payton Gottshall (19-4) pitched three innings in relief for the Lady Vols. She recorded four strikeouts.

Karlyn Pickens, the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week, started for Tennessee. She pitched four innings and recorded four strikeouts.