University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, March 29
Auburn, AL
6 PM
University of Tennessee
at
Auburn
Softball Preview: #4 Lady Vols Back on the Road at Auburn
March 28, 2024 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The fourth-ranked Lady Vols will put their 18-game win streak to the test this weekend as they travel down to the Plains for a three-game series against Auburn. The series will run Friday through Sunday, March 29-31.
Tennessee (26-4, 6-0 SEC) owns the nation's longest win streak, while also holding the third-longest road win streak in the country – having won 10 consecutive away from home.
FOLLOW LIVE
Friday night's contest will air live on SEC Network with Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Madison Shipman (analyst) on the call. Saturday and Sunday's games will be available to stream on SECN+ or through the WatchESPN app.
Fans can also listen to Voice of the Lady Vols Brian Rice call the series all weekend long. Friday and Sunday's games will stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app with Saturday's contest airing on AM990.
ANOTHER HISTORIC START
With series sweeps of then-No. 11 Missouri and then-No. 23 South Carolina, Tennessee has started conference play 6-0 in back-to-back seasons. It is the first time in program history the Lady Vols have opened consecutive league seasons with six straight victories.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK x3
For the third week in a row, Tennessee garnered SEC Pitcher of the Week accolades as the conference office tabbed graduate right-hander Payton Gottshall for this week's honor.
Gottshall did a little bit of everything this weekend – picking up two wins and a save while not allowing a single run to score over 12 innings of work. The righty gave up just six hits over three appearances, walked only five and struck out 18.
The award is Gottshall's first SEC Pitcher of the Week honor, and it is the first time since 2021 that Tennessee has garnered recognition three times. Sophomore Karlyn Pickens took home the accolade the previous two weeks.
RING OF FIRE
Tennessee has been strong all season in the pitcher's circle – headlined by Pickens and Gottshall. The duo has led the charge for a pitching staff that owns the nation's best ERA at 1.06 and claims 15 shutouts – second-best in Division I – and has a 5.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio that is third nationally.
Individually, Pickens ranks third in the nation with a 0.54 ERA, is fourth in hits allowed per seven innings at 3.30, leads the country with nine shutouts and is third with 14 victories.
Gottshall's ERA sits at 1.05 and ranks 18th nationally and fourth best in the SEC. She also ranks top five in the SEC in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.39) and strikeouts per seven innings (9.2).
SCOUTING AUBURN
Head Coach (Record at AU): Mickey Dean (221-118-1)
2023 Record: 15-9-1 (2-7 SEC)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 44-27
Last Meeting: W, 3-1 on 5/8/22 in Knoxville
Key Stat: Tennessee enters the weekend riding a six-game winning streak against Auburn. The Lady Vols swept the Tigers in their last trip to the Plains in 2021 before sweeping at home in Knoxville in 2022.
UP NEXT
Tennessee has a quick turnaround following its series at Auburn – traveling to Columbia, Tennessee, for the annual Midstate Classic. The Lady Vols will square off against in-state foe Memphis on Tuesday, April 2, before coming home to Sherri Parker Lee for a three-game set against Georgia.
Tennessee (26-4, 6-0 SEC) owns the nation's longest win streak, while also holding the third-longest road win streak in the country – having won 10 consecutive away from home.
FOLLOW LIVE
Friday night's contest will air live on SEC Network with Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Madison Shipman (analyst) on the call. Saturday and Sunday's games will be available to stream on SECN+ or through the WatchESPN app.
Fans can also listen to Voice of the Lady Vols Brian Rice call the series all weekend long. Friday and Sunday's games will stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app with Saturday's contest airing on AM990.
ANOTHER HISTORIC START
With series sweeps of then-No. 11 Missouri and then-No. 23 South Carolina, Tennessee has started conference play 6-0 in back-to-back seasons. It is the first time in program history the Lady Vols have opened consecutive league seasons with six straight victories.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK x3
For the third week in a row, Tennessee garnered SEC Pitcher of the Week accolades as the conference office tabbed graduate right-hander Payton Gottshall for this week's honor.
Gottshall did a little bit of everything this weekend – picking up two wins and a save while not allowing a single run to score over 12 innings of work. The righty gave up just six hits over three appearances, walked only five and struck out 18.
The award is Gottshall's first SEC Pitcher of the Week honor, and it is the first time since 2021 that Tennessee has garnered recognition three times. Sophomore Karlyn Pickens took home the accolade the previous two weeks.
RING OF FIRE
Tennessee has been strong all season in the pitcher's circle – headlined by Pickens and Gottshall. The duo has led the charge for a pitching staff that owns the nation's best ERA at 1.06 and claims 15 shutouts – second-best in Division I – and has a 5.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio that is third nationally.
Individually, Pickens ranks third in the nation with a 0.54 ERA, is fourth in hits allowed per seven innings at 3.30, leads the country with nine shutouts and is third with 14 victories.
Gottshall's ERA sits at 1.05 and ranks 18th nationally and fourth best in the SEC. She also ranks top five in the SEC in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.39) and strikeouts per seven innings (9.2).
SCOUTING AUBURN
Head Coach (Record at AU): Mickey Dean (221-118-1)
2023 Record: 15-9-1 (2-7 SEC)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 44-27
Last Meeting: W, 3-1 on 5/8/22 in Knoxville
Key Stat: Tennessee enters the weekend riding a six-game winning streak against Auburn. The Lady Vols swept the Tigers in their last trip to the Plains in 2021 before sweeping at home in Knoxville in 2022.
UP NEXT
Tennessee has a quick turnaround following its series at Auburn – traveling to Columbia, Tennessee, for the annual Midstate Classic. The Lady Vols will square off against in-state foe Memphis on Tuesday, April 2, before coming home to Sherri Parker Lee for a three-game set against Georgia.
Players Mentioned
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