University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, March 15
Knoxville
6 PM
University of Tennessee
vs
Missouri
Softball Preview: #8 Tennessee Opens SEC Play at Home Against #11 Missouri
March 14, 2024 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Conference play begins this weekend for the eighth-ranked Lady Vols as they play host to No. 11 Missouri at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium March 15-17.
Tennessee (19-4) enters the weekend on an 11-game win streak and has won 14 straight at home dating to May 19, 2023.
FOLLOW LIVE
All three games of the series will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Zack Nelson (play-by-play) and Faith Cain (analyst) will call the action throughout the weekend.
Voice of the Lady Vols Brian Rice will host an audio broadcast for all three games, available for listening on AM990. Links for the audio broadcast can be found on the Tennessee softball schedule page and will be shared on @Vol_Softball social media accounts.
SEC PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Karlyn Pickens was fabulous last week, earning SEC Pitcher of the Week for the second time in her career. The right-hander compiled a 4-0 record for the Lady Vols and tallied three complete game shutouts. Pickens tossed 26.1 scoreless innings in her five appearances, allowing only eight hits over that span while racking up 34 strikeouts and surrendering just six walks.
FRIENDLY CONFINES: Back in the friendly confines of Sherri Parker Lee Stadium the Lady Vols' bats have come to life. Tennessee is hitting .375 at home with a slugging percentage of .769 and an on-base percentage of .494.
Through nine home games, the Lady Vols have clubbed 21 home runs and 74 RBIs. Tennessee is outscoring its opponents 77-4 at SPL.
The pitching staff has been just as hot, holding a 0.40 ERA at home with six shutouts. Visiting teams are hitting just .124 at Sherri Parker Lee.
MEAL TIME: Junior Laura Mealer went on a tear this week for the Lady Vols, hitting .563 with eight runs scored, two doubles, five home runs and 12 RBIs. The Chapel Hill, Tennessee, native finished the week with an OPS of 2.307.
Against Missouri State, Mealer went 3-for-3 at the plate with three home runs – tying UT's single-game home run record – and five RBIs. She is only the second player in program history to achieve the feat. She was also solid defensively with 22 putouts and four assists.
SABERMETRICS CORNER: Mealer leads Tennessee in several advanced statistics - including WRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) at 251, WOBA (Weighted On-base Average) with a .632 mark and HR/FB ratio (home run/fly ball) at 35.7 percent. Mealer ranks third, third and fourth in those categories in the SEC.
In the circle, Payton Gottshall and Karlyn Pickens rank among the best in the SEC in SIERA (Skill-interactive Earned Run Average) which quantifies a pitcher's performance by trying to eliminate factors the pitcher can't control. The duo are second and third, respectively, at 1.64 and 1.67.
Gottshall leads the league in FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) at 0.56. Pickens is fourth with a FIP of 1.06.
SCOUTING MISSOURI
Tennessee and Missouri last met at the 2022 SEC Tournament in Gainesville, Florida. The Lady Vols and Tigers played a tight affair, with Mizzou winning 3-0.
Head Coach (Record at Mizzou): Larissa Anderson (191-100)
2023 Record: 22-3 (2-1 SEC)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 12-10
Last Meeting: L, 0-3 on 5/13/22 in Columbia, Missouri
Key Stat: The Tigers head into the second week of SEC play with a 22-3 record (2-1 SEC) after opening league play last week against Auburn. The Tigers 22-3 record is the best start for Missouri since the Tigers opened the 2013 campaign 22-2 en route to a 38-14 finish. Mizzou leads the nation with a 20-2 road/neutral site record.
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols head back on the road as they travel to South Carolina for a Saturday-Monday three-game series March 23-25.
Tennessee (19-4) enters the weekend on an 11-game win streak and has won 14 straight at home dating to May 19, 2023.
FOLLOW LIVE
All three games of the series will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Zack Nelson (play-by-play) and Faith Cain (analyst) will call the action throughout the weekend.
Voice of the Lady Vols Brian Rice will host an audio broadcast for all three games, available for listening on AM990. Links for the audio broadcast can be found on the Tennessee softball schedule page and will be shared on @Vol_Softball social media accounts.
SEC PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Karlyn Pickens was fabulous last week, earning SEC Pitcher of the Week for the second time in her career. The right-hander compiled a 4-0 record for the Lady Vols and tallied three complete game shutouts. Pickens tossed 26.1 scoreless innings in her five appearances, allowing only eight hits over that span while racking up 34 strikeouts and surrendering just six walks.
FRIENDLY CONFINES: Back in the friendly confines of Sherri Parker Lee Stadium the Lady Vols' bats have come to life. Tennessee is hitting .375 at home with a slugging percentage of .769 and an on-base percentage of .494.
Through nine home games, the Lady Vols have clubbed 21 home runs and 74 RBIs. Tennessee is outscoring its opponents 77-4 at SPL.
The pitching staff has been just as hot, holding a 0.40 ERA at home with six shutouts. Visiting teams are hitting just .124 at Sherri Parker Lee.
MEAL TIME: Junior Laura Mealer went on a tear this week for the Lady Vols, hitting .563 with eight runs scored, two doubles, five home runs and 12 RBIs. The Chapel Hill, Tennessee, native finished the week with an OPS of 2.307.
Against Missouri State, Mealer went 3-for-3 at the plate with three home runs – tying UT's single-game home run record – and five RBIs. She is only the second player in program history to achieve the feat. She was also solid defensively with 22 putouts and four assists.
SABERMETRICS CORNER: Mealer leads Tennessee in several advanced statistics - including WRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) at 251, WOBA (Weighted On-base Average) with a .632 mark and HR/FB ratio (home run/fly ball) at 35.7 percent. Mealer ranks third, third and fourth in those categories in the SEC.
In the circle, Payton Gottshall and Karlyn Pickens rank among the best in the SEC in SIERA (Skill-interactive Earned Run Average) which quantifies a pitcher's performance by trying to eliminate factors the pitcher can't control. The duo are second and third, respectively, at 1.64 and 1.67.
Gottshall leads the league in FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) at 0.56. Pickens is fourth with a FIP of 1.06.
SCOUTING MISSOURI
Tennessee and Missouri last met at the 2022 SEC Tournament in Gainesville, Florida. The Lady Vols and Tigers played a tight affair, with Mizzou winning 3-0.
Head Coach (Record at Mizzou): Larissa Anderson (191-100)
2023 Record: 22-3 (2-1 SEC)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 12-10
Last Meeting: L, 0-3 on 5/13/22 in Columbia, Missouri
Key Stat: The Tigers head into the second week of SEC play with a 22-3 record (2-1 SEC) after opening league play last week against Auburn. The Tigers 22-3 record is the best start for Missouri since the Tigers opened the 2013 campaign 22-2 en route to a 38-14 finish. Mizzou leads the nation with a 20-2 road/neutral site record.
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols head back on the road as they travel to South Carolina for a Saturday-Monday three-game series March 23-25.
Players Mentioned
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Sunday, May 25
SB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Nebraska (5.24.25)
Saturday, May 24
SB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Nebraska (5.23.25)
Friday, May 23
SB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Ohio State (5.18.25)
Sunday, May 18
