Tennessee

WATCH: Taylor Pannell hits walk-off home run to deliver series-open win for Tennessee softball vs Auburn

Published

8 months ago

April 17, 2025

WATCH: Taylor Pannell hits walk-off home run to deliver series-open win for Tennessee softball vs Auburn

Taylor Pannell was the hero for Tennessee softball in the series opener against Auburn.

The redshirt sophomore has been the best hitter for the Lady Vols this spring, and she showed it on April 17 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

No. 4 Tennessee fell behind by two runs in the sixth inning. The Lady Vols immediately responded with home runs from Sophia Nugent and Gabby Leach to tie it up in the bottom of the sixth. Then Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens, who threw six strikeouts, kept the score tied to set it up for Pannell in the bottom of the seventh.

Kinsey Fiedler drew a walk before Pannell stepped to the plate. With a 2-0 count, Pannell took a swing and sent the ball sailing over the center field wall to walk it off for Tennessee. Pannell’s two-run homer gave the Lady Vols (35-9, 10-6 SEC) a 4-2 to open the series against Auburn (27-18, 4-15).

It was Pannell’s 14th home run of the season, which leads the team. She also leads the team in batting average (.447), runs scored (42), doubles (10), RBIs (51), slugging percentage (.866) and on base percentage (.546).

Pannell was crucial in Tennessee’s road upset of then-No. 1 Texas last weekend. She went 4-for-6 with one run and three walks in the series.

Pannell was an All-SEC first team selection last season as a redshirt freshman. Pannell hit .342 in SEC play as a freshman and logged eight home runs and 33 RBIs on the season.

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on X @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.

Source link

Click to comment

Tennessee

Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator

Published

9 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator

Alex Golesh was introduced as Auburn’s head coach on Dec. 1. He served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.

Golesh announced the hiring of Jacob Bronowski as Auburn’s special teams coordinator. He served as the Vols’ special teams analyst in 2021 under head coach Josh Heupel. Bronowski was also under Heupel at UCF in 2020 as special teams quality control.

“His track record is outstanding,” Golesh said of Bronowski. “He developed multiple national award contenders, including a Lou Groza Award winner, and has led some of the top special teams units in the country.

“I saw up close when we worked together before that coach Bronowski understands that special teams can be a championship difference-maker, and he’s proven he can develop elite specialists. He brings exactly the attention to detail and relentless work ethic we need in our program.”

Auburn will play at Tennessee on Oct. 3, 2026.

Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

Source link

Tennessee

Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates

Published

21 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates

Tennessee football will host Lane Kiffin, Alex Golesh and possibly Arch Manning at Neyland Stadium in the 2026 season.

UT’s opponents for the next four seasons were previously announced. On Dec. 11, the SEC released the dates of every conference game, providing the full picture of the 2026 schedule.

Game times and television designations will be announced later.

Texas will make its first trip ever to Tennessee on Sept. 26. Manning, the Longhorns quarterback, is expected to return for the 2026 season rather than enter the NFL draft. If so, he’ll face the Vols on the home turf of his uncle, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.

Golesh, the former UT offensive coordinator, is Auburn’s new coach. He will return to Knoxville for an Oct. 3 game.

Alabama will play at Tennessee on Oct. 17, continuing their Third Saturday in October rivalry game.

Kiffin, the polarizing former UT coach, is now coaching LSU after bolting Ole Miss after the regular season ended. He will return to Knoxville for a Nov. 21 game. Three of the five SEC teams visiting Neyland Stadium will have a first-year coach, including Kentucky’s Will Stein on Nov. 7.

Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as annual SEC opponents in the league’s new nine-game conference schedule. Its other six opponents will rotate each season. That means each school will play every SEC opponent home and away every four years.

Tennessee will have one open week on Oct. 31 and thus won’t play on Halloween.

Here is Tennessee’s week-to-week schedule for the 2026 season.

Tennessee football 2026 schedule

Sept. 5: Furman
Sept. 12: At Georgia Tech
Sept. 19: Kennesaw State
Sept. 26: Texas*
Oct. 3: Auburn*
Oct. 10: At Arkansas*
Oct. 17: Alabama*
Oct. 24: At South Carolina*
Oct. 31: Open
Nov. 7: Kentucky*
Nov. 14: At Texas A&M*
Nov. 21: LSU*
Nov. 28: At Vanderbilt*

*SEC game

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Source link

Tennessee

Dragos Cazacu signs with Tennessee

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee announced the signing of graduate student Dragos Cazacu on Wednesday. He is from Constanta, Romania.

“Dragos is someone we believe can translate all of his professional experience and success seamlessly to high level college tennis,” Tennessee associate head coach Matt Lucas said. “He’s a very mature young man who has finished university in Romania, so we know the type of student athlete we are getting. Winning ITF Pro Circuit titles, all while doing his degree back home shows he will transition nicely to Tennessee in January.”

Cazacu competed on the ATP Tour prior to Tennessee. His highest ranking was No. 763 in singles and No. 495 in doubles.

Tennessee will begin its spring men’s tennis season versus ETSU on Jan. 9, 2026 at Goodfriend Tennis Center. SEC competition will begin Feb. 21, 2026 at Kentucky.

The Vols’ home opener in SEC play is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2026 versus Auburn at Goodfriend Tennis Center.

Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

Source link