KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Following a 10-0 start to the 2026 season, including a 5-0 showing at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational this past weekend, Tennessee has been named the No. 1 team in the nation, sweeping all four major polls: the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, ESPN/USA Softball, D1Softball and Softball America.
It is the first time all four major polls have tabbed Tennessee as No. 1 at the same time. It is the first time Tennessee has been No. 1 in the NFCA poll since Feb. 11, 2014.
The Lady Vols have six wins over teams ranked in the NFCA Top 25, the most through the first 10 games of a season in program history.
Tennessee has played complementary ball to open the year. Offensively, UT is outscoring opponents 76-4. In the circle, the pitching staff has been dominant. Karlyn Pickens, Erin Nuwer, Sage Mardjetko, Maddi Rutan and Peyton Hardenburger have combined for a 0.33 ERA with six shutouts, 73 strikeouts and a .121 opponent batting average.
The four runs allowed through 10 games are the fewest by a Tennessee pitching staff to start a season since 2005.
Pickens and Nuwer have collected multiple pitching honors over the first two weekends. Both earned SEC Pitcher of the Week and D1Softball National Pitcher of the Week recognition, while Nuwer was also named Softball America Pitching Star of the Week.
UT returns to action Feb. 20-22 in Birmingham, Alabama, for the Green and Gold Classic, hosted by UAB. Tennessee is scheduled to face Missouri State and UAB on Friday, Mercer on Saturday and Southern Illinois on Sunday.
