University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, March 13
Starkville, MS
7 PM ET
University of Tennessee
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Mississippi State
SB Preview: #1 Lady Vols Look to Continue Momentum with SEC Road Series at #12 Mississippi State
March 13, 2026 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – No. 1 Tennessee looks to continue its winning ways with a three-game SEC road series against No. 12 Mississippi State March 13-15 at Nusz Park.
The Lady Vols (25-0, 3-0 SEC) swept No. 17 LSU in their first SEC series of the season last weekend in Knoxville. Since then, the Lady Vols have been on an extended road trip, starting with a neutral site win over Austin Peay in Columbia, Tennessee.
Tennessee needed two days to complete a run-rule win over Lipscomb, which was its 25th consecutive victory to begin the season, setting a new program record for best start.
Mississippi State (26-2) is riding high coming into the weekend as it has won its last nine games. The Bulldogs' record entering conference play is their best in program history.
BROADCAST INFO
All three games this weekend will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Will Kollmeyer (play-by-play) will be on the call with Brittany McKinney serving as the analyst.
Fans can also listen to Charley Collier call the action via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App. Streaming, live stats, and radio links are available on the Tennessee softball schedule page at UTSports.com.
NOTABLE
UNANIMOUS NO. 1
Off to a 25-0 start to the 2026 season, including nine wins over NFCA Top- 25-ranked opponents, the Lady Vols have been named the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation for four consecutive weeks. It is the first time all four major polls (NFCA, USA Softball, D1Softball and Softball America) have tabbed Tennessee as No. 1 at the same time.
BEST START IN PROGRAM HISTORY
With a midweek win over Lipscomb on Thursday, Tennessee set a record for best start in program history at 25-0. The 2026 Lady Vols surpassed the 2006 team that began 24-0.
MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols' magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 155-9 when scoring three or more runs over that span.
RING OF FIRE
The Lady Vols have adopted a staff approach to pitching since 2023 and this season is no different. Five different pitchers started in the circle - Nuwer (8), Mardjetko (7), Pickens (6), Rutan (2) and Hardenburger (2). Nuwer leads the staff with 13 total appearances. The staff has combined for 202 strikeouts over 158 innings of work with an ERA of 0.89. They have allowed 22 runs in 25 games with 13 shutouts.
ROAD WARRIORS
Over the past three seasons, the Lady Vols have gone 40-10 in true road games and 47-14 at neutral sites. That run includes three conference sweeps at No. 10 LSU (2023), at No. 16 Kentucky (2023) and at No. 23 South Carolina (2024).
Since the beginning of SEC play in 2023, Tennessee has won 11 of 12 SEC road series, including eight straight. During the stretch, UT is 26-10 on the road in league play and averages 4.5 runs per game, while allowing an average of 1.9 runs per game. Tennessee's last SEC road series loss was at Arkansas in 2023.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
Head Coach (Record at MSU): Samantha Ricketts (224-121)
2026 Record: 26-2
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 49-23
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 25-12
In Starkville: Tennessee leads, 21-10
At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Tennessee won 8-0 (5) on April 5, 2024, in Knoxville
DUE UP
Tennessee will return to Knoxville for a few days before heading back out on the road for a three-game series against the Florida Gators in Gainesville, March 20-22.
The Lady Vols (25-0, 3-0 SEC) swept No. 17 LSU in their first SEC series of the season last weekend in Knoxville. Since then, the Lady Vols have been on an extended road trip, starting with a neutral site win over Austin Peay in Columbia, Tennessee.
Tennessee needed two days to complete a run-rule win over Lipscomb, which was its 25th consecutive victory to begin the season, setting a new program record for best start.
Mississippi State (26-2) is riding high coming into the weekend as it has won its last nine games. The Bulldogs' record entering conference play is their best in program history.
BROADCAST INFO
All three games this weekend will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Will Kollmeyer (play-by-play) will be on the call with Brittany McKinney serving as the analyst.
Fans can also listen to Charley Collier call the action via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App. Streaming, live stats, and radio links are available on the Tennessee softball schedule page at UTSports.com.
NOTABLE
UNANIMOUS NO. 1
Off to a 25-0 start to the 2026 season, including nine wins over NFCA Top- 25-ranked opponents, the Lady Vols have been named the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation for four consecutive weeks. It is the first time all four major polls (NFCA, USA Softball, D1Softball and Softball America) have tabbed Tennessee as No. 1 at the same time.
BEST START IN PROGRAM HISTORY
With a midweek win over Lipscomb on Thursday, Tennessee set a record for best start in program history at 25-0. The 2026 Lady Vols surpassed the 2006 team that began 24-0.
MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols' magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 155-9 when scoring three or more runs over that span.
RING OF FIRE
The Lady Vols have adopted a staff approach to pitching since 2023 and this season is no different. Five different pitchers started in the circle - Nuwer (8), Mardjetko (7), Pickens (6), Rutan (2) and Hardenburger (2). Nuwer leads the staff with 13 total appearances. The staff has combined for 202 strikeouts over 158 innings of work with an ERA of 0.89. They have allowed 22 runs in 25 games with 13 shutouts.
ROAD WARRIORS
Over the past three seasons, the Lady Vols have gone 40-10 in true road games and 47-14 at neutral sites. That run includes three conference sweeps at No. 10 LSU (2023), at No. 16 Kentucky (2023) and at No. 23 South Carolina (2024).
Since the beginning of SEC play in 2023, Tennessee has won 11 of 12 SEC road series, including eight straight. During the stretch, UT is 26-10 on the road in league play and averages 4.5 runs per game, while allowing an average of 1.9 runs per game. Tennessee's last SEC road series loss was at Arkansas in 2023.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
Head Coach (Record at MSU): Samantha Ricketts (224-121)
2026 Record: 26-2
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 49-23
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 25-12
In Starkville: Tennessee leads, 21-10
At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Tennessee won 8-0 (5) on April 5, 2024, in Knoxville
DUE UP
Tennessee will return to Knoxville for a few days before heading back out on the road for a three-game series against the Florida Gators in Gainesville, March 20-22.
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SB | Karen Weekly Postgame at Lipscomb (3.12.26)
Thursday, March 12
SB | Peyton Hardenburger Postgame at Lipscomb (3.12.26)
Thursday, March 12
SB | Karen Weekly Postgame vs. Austin Peay (3.10.26)
Tuesday, March 10
SB | Saviya Morgan Postgame vs. Austin Peay (3.10.26)
Tuesday, March 10
