LEXINGTON, Ky. – The fifth-ranked and fifth-seeded Lady Vols will play 13-seed Ole Miss on Wednesday at approximately 5 p.m. ET as they open postseason play in the SEC Tournament at Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Thursday’s game will be televised on SEC Network with Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Michele Smith (analyst), Jessica Mendoza (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline) calling the action.
Brian Rice, the Voice of the Lady Vols, will provide a free audio broadcast available via UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app. Fans can also listen on AM 990. Links to the audio broadcast can be found on the Tennessee softball schedule page and on @Vol_Softball social media accounts.
SEC TOURNAMENT SUCCESS
This season marks the 26th time Tennessee has played in the SEC Softball Tournament. It holds a 33-28 record all-time and claims the fourth-highest winning percentage – trailing LSU, Alabama and Florida who each enter the tournament for the 29th time in 2026.
MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols’ magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 169-11 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 wseason is no different. Five different pitchers started in the circle – Mardjetko (18), Nuwer (15), Pickens (13), Rutan (3) and Hardenburger (2). Pickens leads the staff with 27 total appearances. The staff has combined for 408 strikeouts over 330 innings of work with an ERA of 1.32. They have allowed 84 runs in 51 games with 18 shutouts.
NO. 1 OVERALL
On Monday night, Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens was selected No. 1 overall by the Carolina Blaze in the 2026 AUSL College Draft. She is the eighth Tennessee student-athlete to be drafted No. 1 overall and the second in program history. Lindsay Schutzler went No. 1 to the Chicago Bandits in the 2007 NPF draft.
SCOUTING OLE MISS
Head Coach (Record at Ole Miss): Jamie Trachsel (215-140)
2025 Record: 33-23, 6-18 SEC
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 55-15
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 28-3
In Oxford: Tennessee leads, 24-12
At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Tennessee won 4-3 on March 29, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee
