University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, March 6
Knoxville
6 PM ET
University of Tennessee
vs
LSU
SB Preview: #1 Tennessee Opens SEC Play at Home with #17 LSU
March 05, 2026 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 1 Tennessee opens SEC play this weekend, March 6-8, as it welcomes No. 17 LSU to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium for a three-game series.
Tennessee (20-0) enters the weekend off to its third-best start in program history. Next up for the 2026 team is the 2007 squad that opened at 23-0. UT's best start to a season was in 2006 at 24-0.
LSU (17-4) comes to Rocky Top riding a 10-game winning streak.
PARKING AND TRAFFIC
As improvements are underway to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium (SPL) and surrounding areas this season, fans will notice that parking near SPL is extremely limited this year. We thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation as upgrades are being made to enhance the gameday experience and ensure our program continues to compete at the highest level nationally. Please note that these are challenges only for the 2026 season, and we look forward to delivering an enhanced gameday experience for Lady Vol Nation in 2027 and beyond!
Parking is available for FREE on Stephenson Drive on a first-come, first-serve basis for all games this season in Lot CR25 to the south of Regal Soccer Stadium and along Stephenson Drive, parallel to the train tracks. (see parking map).
When parking has been filled to capacity on Stephenson Drive, fans will be directed to park for FREE at the Ag Campus in Lot CC1. If Lot CC1 reaches capacity, overflow parking will be available in the G7 Garage near the Allan Jones Aquatics Center.
Regardless of whether fans park at Lot CC1 or G7 Garage, a FREE shuttle will pick up fans pregame and drop them off postgame on the corner of Joe Johnson Dr & River Dr, adjacent to Lot CC1. The shuttle will drop off fans in front of Joan Cronan Volleyball Center on Stephenson Drive pregame, and will pick up fans at the same location postgame.
ADA shuttles will also be available from the Ag Campus, picking up fans pregame and dropping them off postgame at the corner of Joe Johnson Dr & River Dr. The shuttle will drop off fans pregame and pick them up postgame at the main entrance of Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
All shuttles will begin running 2 hours prior to first pitch and will stop running once the stadium has been cleared by Event Staff following the conclusion of the game (approximately 45-60 minutes after the game).
BROADCAST INFO
Friday and Saturday's games will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Will Boling (play-by-play) will be on the call with Faith Cain serving as the analyst. Sunday's contest will be broadcast on SEC Network with Matt Shcumaker (play-by-play) and LVFL Madison Shipman calling the action.
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
RANKINGS
Tennessee enters the weekend holding its unanimous No. 1 ranking across the NFCA, USA Softball, D1 and Softball America polls.
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 - Mardjetko (6), Pickens (6), Nuwer (5), Rutan (2) and Hardenburger (1). Nuwer has made 10 total appearances with Pickens appearing nine times. The staff has combined for 174 strikeouts over 126 innings of work with an ERA of 0.50. They have allowed 10 runs in 20 games with 11 shutouts.
DODGE RAM
Redshirt sophomore infielder Ella Dodge has wasted no time asserting herself as one of the Lady Vols' top hitters this season. Dodge is batting .367 with 20 runs, eight doubles, six home runs and 30 RBIs. She has 44 total bases through 20 games and has drawn 15 walks. Dodge is second on the team with eight stolen bases and has an OPS of 1.427. The second baseman is riding a 29-game reached base streak dating to last season.
The Bradenton, Florida, native, has also been rock solid at second base with a .981 fielding percentage in 54 chances and is third on the team in assists with 25. Dodge has helped turn four double plays.
IMPACT TRANSFERS
Tennessee brought in a small transfer class of three, but the group has been impressive.
Sophia Knight (OF - Boise State)
Leads the team in average (.556), at-bats (63), hits (35) and stolen bases (11), while also leading the team in runs scored (26) through 20 games this season. She ranks third in the SEC in average, second in stolen bases and is fifth in hits
Tabbed a Freshman All-American by Softball America and was named MWC Freshman of the Year in 2024. At Boise State, had back-to-back 200-hit seasons with a .405 and .486 batting average, respectively. Totaled 144 runs and 45 stolen bases over two seasons with the Broncos.
Makenzie Butt (INF - Boise State)
Hitting .371 with five runs, three doubles and is second on the team with four home runs. Has 16 RBIs and is slugging .880 with an OPS of 1.236. Named Softball America Freshman All-American and D1Softball Freshman All-America Second Team in 2025. She was also tabbed MWC Freshman of the Year.
Batted .363 with 22 home runs and 77 RBIs with Boise State last season. Was the seventh freshman in NCAA history with at least 20 home runs and 75 RBI.
Maddi Rutan (P/INF - Eastern Kentucky)
Has two home runs and five RBIs this season, but has really made an impact at third base. An athletic infielder, Rutan has 29 assists and four putouts in 33 chances at the hot corner. She has also made two starts in the circle.
At Eastern Kentucky, she was named the ASUN Pitcher and Freshman of the Year in 2024. In two seasons EKU, Rutan hit .351 with 72 runs, 15 doubles, 21 home runs and 100 RBIs.
MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols' magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 150-9 when scoring three or more runs over that span.
SCOUTING LSU
Head Coach (Record at LSU): Beth Torina (595-257)
2026 Record: 17-4
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 40-31-1
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 21-13
In Baton Rouge: Tennessee leads, 17-14-1
At Neutral Sites: LSU leads, 4-2
Last Meeting: LSU won 2-1 on May 9, 2024, at the SEC Tournament in Auburn, Alabama
DUE UP
Tennessee hits the road for an extended road trip, beginning with the Midstate Classic in Columbia, Tennessee, against Austin Peay on March 10. UT will then face Lipscomb in Nashville on March 11 before traveling to Starkville, Mississippi, for a three-game series against Mississippi State March 13-15.
Tennessee (20-0) enters the weekend off to its third-best start in program history. Next up for the 2026 team is the 2007 squad that opened at 23-0. UT's best start to a season was in 2006 at 24-0.
LSU (17-4) comes to Rocky Top riding a 10-game winning streak.
PARKING AND TRAFFIC
As improvements are underway to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium (SPL) and surrounding areas this season, fans will notice that parking near SPL is extremely limited this year. We thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation as upgrades are being made to enhance the gameday experience and ensure our program continues to compete at the highest level nationally. Please note that these are challenges only for the 2026 season, and we look forward to delivering an enhanced gameday experience for Lady Vol Nation in 2027 and beyond!
Parking is available for FREE on Stephenson Drive on a first-come, first-serve basis for all games this season in Lot CR25 to the south of Regal Soccer Stadium and along Stephenson Drive, parallel to the train tracks. (see parking map).
When parking has been filled to capacity on Stephenson Drive, fans will be directed to park for FREE at the Ag Campus in Lot CC1. If Lot CC1 reaches capacity, overflow parking will be available in the G7 Garage near the Allan Jones Aquatics Center.
Regardless of whether fans park at Lot CC1 or G7 Garage, a FREE shuttle will pick up fans pregame and drop them off postgame on the corner of Joe Johnson Dr & River Dr, adjacent to Lot CC1. The shuttle will drop off fans in front of Joan Cronan Volleyball Center on Stephenson Drive pregame, and will pick up fans at the same location postgame.
ADA shuttles will also be available from the Ag Campus, picking up fans pregame and dropping them off postgame at the corner of Joe Johnson Dr & River Dr. The shuttle will drop off fans pregame and pick them up postgame at the main entrance of Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
All shuttles will begin running 2 hours prior to first pitch and will stop running once the stadium has been cleared by Event Staff following the conclusion of the game (approximately 45-60 minutes after the game).
BROADCAST INFO
Friday and Saturday's games will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Will Boling (play-by-play) will be on the call with Faith Cain serving as the analyst. Sunday's contest will be broadcast on SEC Network with Matt Shcumaker (play-by-play) and LVFL Madison Shipman calling the action.
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
RANKINGS
Tennessee enters the weekend holding its unanimous No. 1 ranking across the NFCA, USA Softball, D1 and Softball America polls.
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 - Mardjetko (6), Pickens (6), Nuwer (5), Rutan (2) and Hardenburger (1). Nuwer has made 10 total appearances with Pickens appearing nine times. The staff has combined for 174 strikeouts over 126 innings of work with an ERA of 0.50. They have allowed 10 runs in 20 games with 11 shutouts.
DODGE RAM
Redshirt sophomore infielder Ella Dodge has wasted no time asserting herself as one of the Lady Vols' top hitters this season. Dodge is batting .367 with 20 runs, eight doubles, six home runs and 30 RBIs. She has 44 total bases through 20 games and has drawn 15 walks. Dodge is second on the team with eight stolen bases and has an OPS of 1.427. The second baseman is riding a 29-game reached base streak dating to last season.
The Bradenton, Florida, native, has also been rock solid at second base with a .981 fielding percentage in 54 chances and is third on the team in assists with 25. Dodge has helped turn four double plays.
IMPACT TRANSFERS
Tennessee brought in a small transfer class of three, but the group has been impressive.
Sophia Knight (OF - Boise State)
Leads the team in average (.556), at-bats (63), hits (35) and stolen bases (11), while also leading the team in runs scored (26) through 20 games this season. She ranks third in the SEC in average, second in stolen bases and is fifth in hits
Tabbed a Freshman All-American by Softball America and was named MWC Freshman of the Year in 2024. At Boise State, had back-to-back 200-hit seasons with a .405 and .486 batting average, respectively. Totaled 144 runs and 45 stolen bases over two seasons with the Broncos.
Makenzie Butt (INF - Boise State)
Hitting .371 with five runs, three doubles and is second on the team with four home runs. Has 16 RBIs and is slugging .880 with an OPS of 1.236. Named Softball America Freshman All-American and D1Softball Freshman All-America Second Team in 2025. She was also tabbed MWC Freshman of the Year.
Batted .363 with 22 home runs and 77 RBIs with Boise State last season. Was the seventh freshman in NCAA history with at least 20 home runs and 75 RBI.
Maddi Rutan (P/INF - Eastern Kentucky)
Has two home runs and five RBIs this season, but has really made an impact at third base. An athletic infielder, Rutan has 29 assists and four putouts in 33 chances at the hot corner. She has also made two starts in the circle.
At Eastern Kentucky, she was named the ASUN Pitcher and Freshman of the Year in 2024. In two seasons EKU, Rutan hit .351 with 72 runs, 15 doubles, 21 home runs and 100 RBIs.
MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols' magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 150-9 when scoring three or more runs over that span.
SCOUTING LSU
Head Coach (Record at LSU): Beth Torina (595-257)
2026 Record: 17-4
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 40-31-1
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 21-13
In Baton Rouge: Tennessee leads, 17-14-1
At Neutral Sites: LSU leads, 4-2
Last Meeting: LSU won 2-1 on May 9, 2024, at the SEC Tournament in Auburn, Alabama
DUE UP
Tennessee hits the road for an extended road trip, beginning with the Midstate Classic in Columbia, Tennessee, against Austin Peay on March 10. UT will then face Lipscomb in Nashville on March 11 before traveling to Starkville, Mississippi, for a three-game series against Mississippi State March 13-15.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/INF
/ SoftballSB | Karen Weekly Postgame vs. Belmont (3.3.26)
Tuesday, March 03
SB | Sophia Knight Postgame vs. Belmont (3.3.26)
Tuesday, March 03
SB | Karen Weekly Postgame vs. App State (3.1.26)
Sunday, March 01
SB | Karlyn Pickens Postgame vs. App State (3.1.26)
Sunday, March 01
