Saturday, May 17
Knoxville
University of Tennessee
42-14
4
vs
2
Ohio State
44-13-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Ohio State
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
5
0
Tennessee
1
0
0
1
2
0
X
4
9
1
Pickens Shines as #7 Lady Vols Advance to Knoxville Regional Final
May 17, 2025 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Junior Karlyn Pickens delivered a dominant performance Saturday as No. 7 Tennessee topped Ohio State, 4-2, at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium to secure a spot in the Knoxville Regional final.
Pickens threw her 20th complete game in Saturday's win, improving to 22-8 on the year. The flamethrower allowed two runs – one earned – on five hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Pickens has registered double-digit strikeouts in 11 outings this season, including four of her last seven appearances.
Tennessee (42-14) was balanced at the plate, with eight different Lady Vols recording a hit as part of a nine-hit afternoon. Senior Kinsey Fiedler led the charge, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
The Lady Vols struck early as Fiedler led off the bottom of the first with a double to right and advanced to third on a groundout. Taylor Pannell then drove in her 62nd RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly, giving UT a 1-0 lead.
Tennessee added a run in the fourth on a clutch RBI single up the middle by Gabby Leach, scoring Laura Mealer.
A two-run fifth provided key insurance. With two on, Sophia Nugent lifted a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Saviya Morgan to tag and score. Mealer followed with a two-out RBI single to push the lead to 4-0.
Ohio State (44-13-1) rallied with two outs in the sixth, scoring a pair of runs on three hits and an error. But Pickens shut the door in the seventh, striking out two and inducing a flyout to strand a runner in scoring position.
CHECK THE STATS
Tennessee held Ohio State – the nation's top home run-hitting team – without a long ball on Saturday. It is the first time OSU has not hit a home run since April 26.
The Lady Vols are now 93-48 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 56-18 in regional play.
DUE UP
Tennessee will play again on Sunday at noon ET against the winner of Game 5 of the Knoxville Regional.
Pickens threw her 20th complete game in Saturday's win, improving to 22-8 on the year. The flamethrower allowed two runs – one earned – on five hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Pickens has registered double-digit strikeouts in 11 outings this season, including four of her last seven appearances.
Tennessee (42-14) was balanced at the plate, with eight different Lady Vols recording a hit as part of a nine-hit afternoon. Senior Kinsey Fiedler led the charge, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
The Lady Vols struck early as Fiedler led off the bottom of the first with a double to right and advanced to third on a groundout. Taylor Pannell then drove in her 62nd RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly, giving UT a 1-0 lead.
Tennessee added a run in the fourth on a clutch RBI single up the middle by Gabby Leach, scoring Laura Mealer.
A two-run fifth provided key insurance. With two on, Sophia Nugent lifted a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Saviya Morgan to tag and score. Mealer followed with a two-out RBI single to push the lead to 4-0.
Ohio State (44-13-1) rallied with two outs in the sixth, scoring a pair of runs on three hits and an error. But Pickens shut the door in the seventh, striking out two and inducing a flyout to strand a runner in scoring position.
CHECK THE STATS
Tennessee held Ohio State – the nation's top home run-hitting team – without a long ball on Saturday. It is the first time OSU has not hit a home run since April 26.
The Lady Vols are now 93-48 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 56-18 in regional play.
DUE UP
Tennessee will play again on Sunday at noon ET against the winner of Game 5 of the Knoxville Regional.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pickens, Karlyn (22-8)
L: Kay, Kennedy (13-4)
Batting:
2B: Kortokrax, Kami 1 ; Frye, Morgan 1
RBI: Milliken, Reagan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Landmesser, Lottie 1 ; Kortokrax, Kami 1
Batting:
2B: Fiedler, Kinsey 1
RBI: Pannell, Taylor 1 ; Nugent, Sophia 1 ; Mealer , Laura 1 ; Leach, Gabby 1
SF: Pannell, Taylor 1 ; Nugent, Sophia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fiedler, Kinsey 1 ; Morgan, Saviya 1 ; Pannell, Taylor 1 ; Mealer , Laura 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Nebraska (5.25.25)
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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
