KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Junior Karlyn Pickens delivered a dominant performance Saturday as No. 7 Tennessee topped Ohio State, 4-2, at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium to secure a spot in the Knoxville Regional final.
 
Pickens threw her 20th complete game in Saturday’s win, improving to 22-8 on the year. The flamethrower allowed two runs – one earned – on five hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Pickens has registered double-digit strikeouts in 11 outings this season, including four of her last seven appearances.
 
Tennessee (42-14) was balanced at the plate, with eight different Lady Vols recording a hit as part of a nine-hit afternoon. Senior Kinsey Fiedler led the charge, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
 
The Lady Vols struck early as Fiedler led off the bottom of the first with a double to right and advanced to third on a groundout. Taylor Pannell then drove in her 62nd RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly, giving UT a 1-0 lead.
 
Tennessee added a run in the fourth on a clutch RBI single up the middle by Gabby Leach, scoring Laura Mealer.
 
A two-run fifth provided key insurance. With two on, Sophia Nugent lifted a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Saviya Morgan to tag and score. Mealer followed with a two-out RBI single to push the lead to 4-0.
 
Ohio State (44-13-1) rallied with two outs in the sixth, scoring a pair of runs on three hits and an error. But Pickens shut the door in the seventh, striking out two and inducing a flyout to strand a runner in scoring position.
 
CHECK THE STATS
Tennessee held Ohio State – the nation’s top home run-hitting team – without a long ball on Saturday. It is the first time OSU has not hit a home run since April 26.
 
The Lady Vols are now 93-48 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 56-18 in regional play.
 
DUE UP
Tennessee will play again on Sunday at noon ET against the winner of Game 5 of the Knoxville Regional.