University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, April 11
Lexington, KY
1 PM ET
University of Tennessee
at
Kentucky
SB Preview: #9 Tennessee Ready For Border Battle At Kentucky
April 10, 2026 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Coming off an eight-game homestand, No. 9 Tennessee kicks off a four-game road swing, beginning with a Saturday-Monday series at Kentucky.
The Lady Vols (34-6, 9-6 SEC) enter the weekend having won five of their last six games. The Wildcats (24-19, 1-14 SEC) have lost 14 consecutive games in league play.
BROADCAST INFO
Saturday's game will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Noah Frary (play-by-play) will be on the call Saturday. Sunday and Monday night's contests will air on SEC Network with Chuckie Kempf (play-by-play) and Jenny Dalton-Hill (analyst) describing the action. Dalton-Hill will also be on the broadcast for Saturday's outing.
Fans can also listen to Voice of the Lady Vols Brian Rice 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.
SEC SUCCESS
Tennessee has been one of the best teams in the SEC since the beginning of the 2023 season, winning 24 of 29 series. That run includes nine sweeps, with two of those coming against Kentucky. The Lady Vols have won seven straight over the Wildcats and nine of the last 10. Since 2015, UK has only won two games against Tennessee - a 9-8 eight-inning game on 4/27/18 and a 13-2 run-rule win on 4/3/21.
MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols' magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 163-9 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 - Mardjetko (13), Nuwer (12), Pickens (10), Rutan (3) and Hardenburger (2). Nuwer leads the staff with 20 total appearances. The staff has combined for 308 strikeouts over 257 innings of work with an ERA of 1.17. They have allowed 54 runs in 40 games with 15 shutouts.
ROAD WARRIORS
Over the past three seasons, the Lady Vols have gone 43-13 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 12 of 14 SEC road series. During the stretch, UT is 29-13 on the road in league play and averages 4.2 runs per game, while allowing an average of 2.0 runs per game.
SCOUTING KENTUCKY
Head Coach (Record at UK): Rachel Lawson (649-409-1)
2026 Record: 24-19, 1-14 SEC
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 54-16
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 27-7
In Lexington: Tennessee leads, 24-8
At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Tennessee won 8-7 on May 4, 2024, in Knoxville.
DUE UP
Tennessee will stay on the road, traveling from Lexington to Durham, North Carolina, to play Duke on Wednesday, April 15 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The Lady Vols (34-6, 9-6 SEC) enter the weekend having won five of their last six games. The Wildcats (24-19, 1-14 SEC) have lost 14 consecutive games in league play.
BROADCAST INFO
Saturday's game will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Noah Frary (play-by-play) will be on the call Saturday. Sunday and Monday night's contests will air on SEC Network with Chuckie Kempf (play-by-play) and Jenny Dalton-Hill (analyst) describing the action. Dalton-Hill will also be on the broadcast for Saturday's outing.
Fans can also listen to Voice of the Lady Vols Brian Rice 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.
SEC SUCCESS
Tennessee has been one of the best teams in the SEC since the beginning of the 2023 season, winning 24 of 29 series. That run includes nine sweeps, with two of those coming against Kentucky. The Lady Vols have won seven straight over the Wildcats and nine of the last 10. Since 2015, UK has only won two games against Tennessee - a 9-8 eight-inning game on 4/27/18 and a 13-2 run-rule win on 4/3/21.
MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols' magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 163-9 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 - Mardjetko (13), Nuwer (12), Pickens (10), Rutan (3) and Hardenburger (2). Nuwer leads the staff with 20 total appearances. The staff has combined for 308 strikeouts over 257 innings of work with an ERA of 1.17. They have allowed 54 runs in 40 games with 15 shutouts.
ROAD WARRIORS
Over the past three seasons, the Lady Vols have gone 43-13 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 12 of 14 SEC road series. During the stretch, UT is 29-13 on the road in league play and averages 4.2 runs per game, while allowing an average of 2.0 runs per game.
SCOUTING KENTUCKY
Head Coach (Record at UK): Rachel Lawson (649-409-1)
2026 Record: 24-19, 1-14 SEC
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 54-16
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 27-7
In Lexington: Tennessee leads, 24-8
At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Tennessee won 8-7 on May 4, 2024, in Knoxville.
DUE UP
Tennessee will stay on the road, traveling from Lexington to Durham, North Carolina, to play Duke on Wednesday, April 15 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
SB | Karen Weekly Postgame vs. Kennesaw State (4.8.26)
Wednesday, April 08
SB | Taelyn Holley Postgame vs. Kennesaw State (4.8.26)
Wednesday, April 08
SB | Erin Nuwer Postgame vs. Kennesaw State (4.8.26)
Wednesday, April 08
SB | Karen Weekly Postgame vs. South Carolina (4.4.26)
Saturday, April 04
