KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 1-ranked Tennessee will play host to Austin Peay on Tuesday at the Ridley Sports Complex in Columbia, Tennessee, as part of the annual Midstate Classic. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.
The Lady Vols will then make the short drive over to Nashville on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. first pitch against Lipscomb on Wednesday at Draper Diamond.
BROADCAST INFO
Fans can listen to Charley Collier’s live radio broadcast on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App. Live stats and the audio stream are available on the Tennessee softball schedule page at UTSports.com. Please note that there will be no streaming for the game against Austin Peay. The outing versus Lipscomb can be streamed on ESPN+ or the WatchESPN app.
NOTABLE
RANKINGS
Tennessee enters the weekend holding its unanimous No. 1 ranking across the NFCA, USA Softball, D1 and Softball America polls.
Midstate Classic
Tennessee and Austin Peay will meet for the 20th time in program history on Tuesday. The meeting marks the second consecutive as part of the Midstate Classic, an event Tennessee has hosted annually since 2014 at the Ridley Sports Complex in Columbia.
STARTING STRONG
Tennessee is tied for its second-best start in program history with the 2007 squad that opened at 23-0. UT’s best start to a season was in 2006 at 24-0.
IMPACT TRANSFERS
Tennessee brought in a small transfer class of three, but the group has been impressive.
Sophia Knight (OF – Boise State)
Leads the team in average (.527), at-bats (74), hits (39) and stolen bases (11), while ranking second in runs scored (27) through 23 games this season. She ranks third in the SEC in average, second in stolen bases and is fifth in hits.
Tabbed a Freshman All-American by Softball America and was named MWC Freshman of the Year in 2024. At Boise State, had back-to-back 200-hit seasons with a .405 and .486 batting average, respectively. Totaled 144 runs and 45 stolen bases over two seasons with the Broncos.
Makenzie Butt (INF – Boise State)
Hitting .366 with seven runs, four doubles and is second on the team with five home runs. Has 19 RBIs and is slugging .829 with an OPS of 1.309.
Named Softball America Freshman All-American and D1Softball Freshman All-America Second Team in 2025. She was also tabbed MWC Freshman of the Year. Batted .363 with 22 home runs and 77 RBIs with Boise State last season. Was the seventh freshman in NCAA history with at least 20 home runs and 75 RBI.
Maddi Rutan (P/INF – Eastern Kentucky)
Has two home runs and eight RBIs this season, but has really made an impact at third base. An athletic infielder, Rutan has 35 assists and four putouts in 40 chances at the hot corner.
She has also made two starts in the circle and made a key relief appearance against LSU on March 7. Down 4-0 with one out in the first inning, Rutan entered the circle and settled things down, while also firing up the home crowd. She held the Tigers in check and gave Tennessee’s offense time to come alive and rally. She threw 3.2 innings against LSU, allowing two runs on three hits with one walk and six strikeouts. She also earned the win in the outing.
At Eastern Kentucky, she was named the ASUN Pitcher and Freshman of the Year in 2024. In two seasons EKU, Rutan hit .351 with 72 runs, 15 doubles, 21 home runs and 100 RBIs.
SCOUTING AUSTIN PEAY
Head Coach (Record at Austin Peay): Kassie Stanfill (205-150)
2026 Record: 16-8
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 19-0
Last Meeting: UT won 6-1 on March 15, 2023, at the Midstate Classic in Columbia, Tennessee
SCOUTING LIPSCOMB
Head Coach (Record at Lipscomb): Kristin Ryman (598-475-2)
2026 Record: 6-16
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 13-0
Last Meeting: UT won 9-2 on March 30, 2022, in Knoxville
DUE UP
Tennessee continues its extended road trip, traveling to Starkville, Mississippi, for a three-game series against Mississippi State March 13-15.
