University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, April 25
Knoxville
7 PM ET
University of Tennessee
vs
Alabama
SB Preview: #8 Tennessee Hosts #3 Alabama in Penultimate SEC Weekend
April 24, 2026 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 8 Tennessee is set to close out its regular-season home schedule with a three-game series against No. 3 Alabama at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The series will run Saturday-Monday with first-pitch times of 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. to close out the weekend on Monday.
TIME CHANGE
The 7 p.m. start time on Saturday is a change from the originally scheduled 4 p.m. first pitch. The change is due to expected inclement weather during the afternoon hours.
SENIOR DAY
Tennessee will honor its three seniors before the game on Saturday, with recognitions for Jackie Kirkpatrick, Karlyn Pickens and Camryn Sarvis beginning at 6:40 p.m.
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
Saturday's contest will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Jill Jelnick (play-by-play) will be on the call with Faith Cain working as the analyst. Sunday and Monday will feature Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Michele Smith (analyst) and Jessica Mendoza (analyst) in the booth.
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.
FINAL HOMESTAND
Tennessee began its final regular-season homestand on Tuesday night with a win over Radford. The Lady Vols now welcome Alabama to Rocky Top for a three-game series. The penultimate weekend of SEC play, the series against the Crimson Tide will run Saturday-Monday.
MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols' magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 166-10 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 (15), Nuwer (13), Pickens (12), Rutan (3) and Hardenburger (2). Pickens leads the staff with 22 total appearances. The staff has combined for 355 strikeouts over 291 innings of work with an ERA of 1.20. They have allowed 64 runs in 45 games with 17 shutouts.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Head Coach (Record at UA): Patrick Murphy (1,360-401-1)
2026 Record: 43-4, 15-3 SEC
Series Record: Alabama leads, 44-33
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 17-15
In Tuscaloosa: Alabama leads, 24-11
At Neutral Sites: Series tied, 5-5
Last Meeting: Alabama won 4-1 on May 26, 2024, in Knoxville
DUE UP
Tennessee will wrap up the 2026 regular season on the road at Missouri. The three-game set against the Tigers is set for Thursday-Saturday, April 30-May 2.
The series will run Saturday-Monday with first-pitch times of 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. to close out the weekend on Monday.
TIME CHANGE
The 7 p.m. start time on Saturday is a change from the originally scheduled 4 p.m. first pitch. The change is due to expected inclement weather during the afternoon hours.
SENIOR DAY
Tennessee will honor its three seniors before the game on Saturday, with recognitions for Jackie Kirkpatrick, Karlyn Pickens and Camryn Sarvis beginning at 6:40 p.m.
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
Saturday's contest will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Jill Jelnick (play-by-play) will be on the call with Faith Cain working as the analyst. Sunday and Monday will feature Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Michele Smith (analyst) and Jessica Mendoza (analyst) in the booth.
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.
FINAL HOMESTAND
Tennessee began its final regular-season homestand on Tuesday night with a win over Radford. The Lady Vols now welcome Alabama to Rocky Top for a three-game series. The penultimate weekend of SEC play, the series against the Crimson Tide will run Saturday-Monday.
MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols' magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 166-10 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 (15), Nuwer (13), Pickens (12), Rutan (3) and Hardenburger (2). Pickens leads the staff with 22 total appearances. The staff has combined for 355 strikeouts over 291 innings of work with an ERA of 1.20. They have allowed 64 runs in 45 games with 17 shutouts.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Head Coach (Record at UA): Patrick Murphy (1,360-401-1)
2026 Record: 43-4, 15-3 SEC
Series Record: Alabama leads, 44-33
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 17-15
In Tuscaloosa: Alabama leads, 24-11
At Neutral Sites: Series tied, 5-5
Last Meeting: Alabama won 4-1 on May 26, 2024, in Knoxville
DUE UP
Tennessee will wrap up the 2026 regular season on the road at Missouri. The three-game set against the Tigers is set for Thursday-Saturday, April 30-May 2.
Players Mentioned
Everything Orange S3 l Ella Dodge (Softball)
Friday, April 24
SB | Karen Weekly Postgame vs. Radford (4.21.26)
Tuesday, April 21
SB | Sage Mardjetko Postgame vs. Radford (4.21.26)
Tuesday, April 21
SB | Karen Weekly Postgame at Duke (4.15.26)
Wednesday, April 15
