KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A dominant outing from Karlyn Pickens in the circle and a trio of home runs powered No. 8 Tennessee to a 3-1 victory over No. 16 Georgia on Thursday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, giving the Lady Vols a 1-0 lead in the NCAA Super Regional series.
Pickens (15-7) tossed a complete game, striking out 10 batters while allowing just one run. The performance marked her sixth career double-digit strikeout game in NCAA Tournament play and her 10th postseason victory.
Georgia threatened early, putting two runners on with one out in the top of the first following back-to-back singles. Pickens escaped the jam, retiring the next two hitters to keep the Bulldogs off the board.
Tennessee (46-10) answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Sophia Knight launched a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left-center field for a solo home run, her first of the season and first since March 15, 2024, during her freshman campaign.
Emma Clarke followed later in the inning with a solo shot to center field, her 13th home run of the season and third of the NCAA Tournament, extending the Lady Vols’ lead to 2-0.
Georgia (41-19) responded in the second inning when Emily Digby connected on a two-out solo homer to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Bulldogs put two more runners aboard in the frame, but Pickens ended the threat with a strikeout.
After scoreless third and fourth innings, Tennessee added an insurance run in the fifth. Alannah Leach drove a 1-1 pitch over the center-field wall for a solo homer, pushing the Lady Vols’ advantage to 3-1.
Georgia mounted another threat in the sixth, placing two runners on with two outs, but Pickens again delivered in a key moment with an inning-ending strikeout.
The Bulldogs made one final push in the seventh. Kierstin Roose opened the inning with a double down the left-field line, and Jaydyn Goodwin followed with an infield single. A hit batter loaded the bases with one out, but Pickens sealed the victory by striking out the final two hitters of the game.
DUE UP
Tennessee and Georgia return to the diamond for Game 2 of the Super Regional series on Friday. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. ET and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
