University of Tennessee Athletics
Wednesday, April 15
Durham, NC
7 PM ET
University of Tennessee
at
Duke
SB Preview: #7 Tennessee Set for Midweek Showdown at #17 Duke
April 15, 2026 | Softball
DURHAM, N.C. – Fresh off a conference sweep at Kentucky, the seventh-ranked Lady Vols are set for a midweek showdown at No. 17 Duke on Wednesday, April 15. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Tennessee (37-6) enters the contest having won six straight and eight of its last 10. Duke (31-12) comes in off a series win over North Carolina and has also won eight of its last 10 games.
BROADCAST INFO
Wednesday night's contests will air on ESPN2 with Eric Frede (play-by-play) and Danielle Lawrie (analyst) calling the action.
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.
AGAINST DUKE
Tennessee and Duke will meet for just the second time ever on Wednesday night. The Lady Vols won the first matchup between the two programs last season in Knoxville, 1-0. Duke has quickly risen to a top-15 program nationally in just nine years as a program. The Blue Devils reached the Women's College World Series in 2024, while Tennessee has gone to OKC nine times, including two trips in 2023 and 2025.
MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols' magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 166-9 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 (14), Nuwer (13), Pickens (11), Rutan (3) and Hardenburger (2). Nuwer leads the staff with 21 total appearances. The staff has combined for 337 strikeouts over 278 innings of work with an ERA of 1.11. They have allowed 57 runs in 43 games with 17 shutouts.
ROAD WARRIORS
Over the past three seasons, the Lady Vols have gone 46-13 in true road games and 47-14 at neutral sites. That run includes four conference sweeps at No. 10 LSU (2023), at No. 16 Kentucky (2023), at No. 23 South Carolina (2024) and at Kentucky (2026).
SCOUTING DUKE
Head Coach (Record at Duke): Marissa Young (337-136)
2026 Record: 31-12
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 1-0
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 1-0
In Durham: N/A
At Neutral Sites: N/A
Last Meeting: Tennessee won 1-0 on March 11, 2025, in Knoxville
DUE UP
Tennessee will have the weekend off before facing Radford on Tuesday, April 21, at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee (37-6) enters the contest having won six straight and eight of its last 10. Duke (31-12) comes in off a series win over North Carolina and has also won eight of its last 10 games.
BROADCAST INFO
Wednesday night's contests will air on ESPN2 with Eric Frede (play-by-play) and Danielle Lawrie (analyst) calling the action.
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.
AGAINST DUKE
Tennessee and Duke will meet for just the second time ever on Wednesday night. The Lady Vols won the first matchup between the two programs last season in Knoxville, 1-0. Duke has quickly risen to a top-15 program nationally in just nine years as a program. The Blue Devils reached the Women's College World Series in 2024, while Tennessee has gone to OKC nine times, including two trips in 2023 and 2025.
MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols' magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 166-9 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 (14), Nuwer (13), Pickens (11), Rutan (3) and Hardenburger (2). Nuwer leads the staff with 21 total appearances. The staff has combined for 337 strikeouts over 278 innings of work with an ERA of 1.11. They have allowed 57 runs in 43 games with 17 shutouts.
ROAD WARRIORS
Over the past three seasons, the Lady Vols have gone 46-13 in true road games and 47-14 at neutral sites. That run includes four conference sweeps at No. 10 LSU (2023), at No. 16 Kentucky (2023), at No. 23 South Carolina (2024) and at Kentucky (2026).
SCOUTING DUKE
Head Coach (Record at Duke): Marissa Young (337-136)
2026 Record: 31-12
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 1-0
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 1-0
In Durham: N/A
At Neutral Sites: N/A
Last Meeting: Tennessee won 1-0 on March 11, 2025, in Knoxville
DUE UP
Tennessee will have the weekend off before facing Radford on Tuesday, April 21, at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
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