A Tennessee softball star pitched her way into the NCAA record books.

Lady Volunteers pitcher Karlyn Pickens took the mound on Monday, and proceeded to throw the fastest pitch in collegiate softball history. Pickens’ historic pitch happened in the sixth inning of Tennessee’s game against Arkansas.

Her pitch clocked in at 78.2 mph.

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Pickens’ previous top speed was 77 mph, which tied her with former Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott.

Abbott set the mark during the 2012 National Pro Fastpitch game against Carolina Diamonds. Pickens had already thrown two pitches this season that reached 77 mph. 

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Pickens was asked about the special moment after the Lady Volunteers’ 3-2 win over the Lady Razorbacks.

Karlyn Pickens #23 of the Tennessee Lady Vols throws a pitch against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first inning at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on March 25, 2023 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

“There was a lot of emotions. At first I just was super excited to celebrate that with my team. It’s way cooler finding out that way than finding out at home after the game,” Pickens said via the Knoxville News Sentinel. 

Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens (23) pitches against Arkansas during an NCAA college softball game on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Pickens did not give up a hit through her 4.1 innings on the mound. She also struck out six Arkansas hitters.

“And then it was kind of emotional. All the work that we’ve put in as a pitching staff, everyone that’s helped coach me — it was a really surreal moment. It was really special,” she added.

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Pickens earned SEC Pitcher of the Year honors last season. She has an 0.86 ERA over 89.1 innings. 

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• Schneider Electric will deploy a backup power system, energy management solutions and other technology for the stadium.
• One example of infrastructure needed is the heating and cooling system for the domed facility, which is a diversion from the current needs at Nissan Stadium.
• The announcement comes as the company doubles down on its investments in Tennessee overall.

Sitting in the new Nissan Stadium will be a lot more comfortable than the current open-air arena, whether on a hot day or during freezing temperatures.

That’s in part due to the new domed design. But energy management technology being implemented in the construction process will efficiently heat and cool the building.

That task will belong to Schneider Electric. The company this week announced its partnership with the Tennessee Titans to become the team’s energy management partner at the new stadium.

The partnership will pave the way for the new Nissan Stadium to be temperature controlled with the latest energy-management technologies. That efficiency and reliability will be crucial to the stadium’s potential to host large events decades into the future — like the Super Bowl.

Schneider Electric will also deploy a backup power system for the stadium in addition to IT infrastructure and electrical power distribution systems. The 5-year partnership will begin after the stadium’s early 2027 opening.

“This is an opportunity for us to showcase smart infrastructure,” Schneider’s Aamir Paul said. “We’re very excited about partnering with the Titans and with Nissan to do that.”

The announcement comes as Schneider doubles down on its investments in Tennessee, where it employs about 2,200 people. It operates manufacturing and distribution facilities in Franklin, Smyrna and Mt. Juliet. A new, $700 million nationwide investment plan was announced this week that will include a new facility in Mt. Juliet in addition to the previously announced investments at that location.

Powering Nissan Stadium with automation

Schneider’s president of North American operations Aamir Paul said the partnership between the company and the Titans will power Nissan Stadium with electricity-enabling infrastructure backed by automation. This automation is crucial to using electricity more efficiently on a massive scale, which helps the Titans with their sustainability goals.

“We also think the next decades and beyond will require us to tackle problems in a different way,” Paul said. “We think we’ll have to inject this degree of automation in order to build systems that are more agile and more resilient.”

Paul said efficiency in electrification could look like widespread utilization of automated “power saving” modes, similar to the settings that can be enabled on a personal electronic device.

“Why couldn’t you have a similar app in your home that puts your whole home into low power mode?” Paul mused. “Take that same example and look at a stadium.”

Energy efficient heating and cooling systems

One of the primary differences between the old and new Nissan Stadiums is the fully enclosed design of the forthcoming facility, which allows heating and cooling technology to come into play.

Titans Chief Operating Officer Dan Werly said the partnership with Schneider will be integral to achieving that end.

“Frankly, this is a big part of our sustainability approach,” Werly said. “Being smart and efficient about how we’re doing that.”

The tools Schneider is implementing at the stadium could result in a 20% reduction in power use, the company said.

When approaching operations at the stadium for years to come, that energy efficiency will improve the fan experience as well as create a strong case for high profile events to land in Nashville, Werly said.

“We want a world class facility that is going to be bringing in major events and be something the city of Nashville can be a part of,” Werly said.

Virginia Tech is going to look a little bit different this season.

The Hokies are having to replace impact players at every level of the offense aside from quarterback, and they are going to have to have some guys, whether it be transfers or freshmen, step up in a big way this year if they are to get back to a bowl game and perhaps more.

One of the most intriguing players that the Hokies brought in this offseason was Tennessee’s Cameron Seldon. Seldon played running back for the Volunteers, but is going to be an all-purpose threat for the Hokies this season. Seldon has been lining up with the first receiver group this spring, and while you can never get too carried away with those kinds of things at this time of the year, it could be a sign of things to come this season for Seldon.

After practice today, Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry talked about Seldon and how he has been pleasantly surprised by what he has seen so far from him, while also talking about the different ways that Virginia Tech could use him.

“I have been pleasantly surprised. He catches the ball more naturally than I anticipated. He’s got really good speed. He’s got a great build. He’s got really good You know, to this point with four practices in the winter program, he’s, you know, he’s everything that I ought to be.

I even think about him on defense. He looks like a bona fide safety. You know, he’s a really good looking athlete that can run, his agility that works. He’s got a burst. You know, he’s raw in a lot of areas but you know we’re excited to work with him.

“Yeah I think it’s, you know, he’s got the ability to do that. Are we able to do that with our offense and, you know, with the personnel we have that we’ll see? But he’s, you know, based on his running back background, he’s good with the ball of his hand, that’s after the catch.”

Seldon was ranked as the No. 9 running back in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports. Seldon totaled 48 carries for 224 yards and a touchdown, plus one reception in his two-year career. Seldon also fielded 6 kick returns as a Volunteer, totaling 113 yards with an average of 18.8 yards per return and a long of 35 yards.

Seldon’s role could change heavily from Tennessee to Virginia Tech. Cam was widely perceived to be a wide receiver out of high school, with the possibility to play on the other side of the ball as a linebacker, but the Volunteers opted to place Seldon at the running back position. 

Here’s a scouting report from Brian Dohn of 247Sports evaluating Seldon as a wide receiver and linebacker out of high school:

“Strong build with size to be receiver or linebacker. Size is not verified through measurements but in-person evaluation meshes with listed 6-foot-2, 220 pounds. Has strength throughout frame. Has multi-sport profile as basketball player and Class 1A state champ in 100 meters. Holds school record of 10.74 seconds. Dominant high school player at small school on Virginia’s northern neck. Explosive in open field with high-level speed to finish plays in open field. Takes snaps at running back, quarterback and receiver on offense. Smooth athlete with ability to churn out YAC. Good ball skills. Gets off line of scrimmage well and quickly gets into route. Comfortable playing in traffic. Has speed to get behind defensive. Demonstrates ability to close on ball in the air. Willing to be physical at the top of routes and in challenging for 50-50 balls. Change of direction, burst and short-area quickness show best when playing edge or blitzing as linebacker. Impacts game in each phase. Step up in competition will be enormous after playing at smallest classification in Virginia. Has to continue to develop ball-tracking skills and show he can elevate and high-point balls in close quarters. Has limited varsity experience because of covid-related issues with school’s schedule. Played four games as a sophomore and five games as a junior. Elite level prospect with build to play early in college at Top 15 program. Potential to be early-round NFL draft selection.”

Seldon could be an underrated portal addition for the Hokies and could make their offense more dynamic. Only time will tell.

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