Tennessee
Tennessee softball bowing out of SEC tournament early no surprise. Will NCAA regional be any different?
It wasn’t a surprise that Tennessee softball’s offense couldn’t overcome errors that led to unearned runs in its SEC tournament quarterfinal loss.
It felt inevitable that the Lady Vols’ inconsistent offense would catch up to them in the postseason, and it didn’t take long. No. 4 seed Tennessee didn’t have any offensive buffer for two critical errors and six unearned runs in the 6-1 loss to No. 5 seed Arkansas (40-11) at Jack Turner Softball Stadium in Athens, Georgia, on May 8.
It was the fifth loss of the season when junior pitcher Karlyn Pickens (20-8) started and didn’t give up any earned runs. Her ERA went down to 0.92 in the loss.
“Facts are facts. There’s zero earned runs on there,” Tennessee coach Karen Weekly said. “I know (Pickens) is going to probably look at it a little differently, but … we talk about mistakes – we make a couple plays a little cleaner, we’re in a real battle. Who knows, maybe we’re in one of those extra inning ball games.”
Pickens’ performance should have been enough for Tennessee to win. But the Lady Vols’ defense faltered twice and committed errors in crucial moments – ones they couldn’t afford to make with their slow offensive day.
The signs of a postseason loss like this have been there from the season opener on Feb. 6 when Tennessee lost 7-1 to Nebraska. It was the first of five losses this season when Pickens started and didn’t give up a single earned run. The Huskers broke open the game in the fifth inning when multiple fielding errors led to five runs.
The Lady Vols went on to lose 1-0 to Oregon on an unearned run when Pickens struck out 13. Weekly even got strategic with her pitching staff in the Texas series in April so Tennessee wouldn’t lose another pitcher’s duel and waste another excellent performance from Pickens.
The Lady Vols didn’t look like a team playing its best softball in the postseason against Arkansas. But they haven’t looked like a team building toward that for the last few weeks, losing four of their last seven games of the regular season.
A few weeks ago, Tennessee was on track to secure a top-8 seed in the NCAA tournament, which would have given it hosting privileges until Oklahoma City if UT made a run the Women’s College World Series. Now, the Lady Vols are floundering going into the selection show on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
Tennessee should safely host a regional as a top-16 seed, but its place in the top 8 seeds is in question after losing their first game of the SEC tournament.
Weekly pointed to their road series wins over Texas and Oklahoma along with no losses to unranked teams as part of their case for a top-8 seed. Tennessee has also played 28 of its games against ranked opponents. The Lady Vols played every reigning power conference champion from last season (UCLA, Northwestern, Duke and Texas).
“I think we’re either second or third or tied for second in terms of the number of games against top 25,” Weekly said. “I think sometimes people look at wins, but if another team is playing a bunch of teams that are in 26 through 50, and we played a bulk in the top 25, that’s putting yourself out there over and over and over again.”
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.
Tennessee freshman forward Chris Washington Jr met with the local media earlier this week in his first press conference after committing and signing with the Vols back in the spring.
Washington discussed why he chose Tennessee, what position he has mostly been working at this summer and much more. Here’s everything Washington said.
More From RTI: What Director of Sports Performance Garrett Medenwald Said About Tennessee Basketball Offseason
On what led to him de-committing from Alabama, eventually committing to Tennessee
“Honestly, I just felt like that for me and my family, that was just the best decision for me. And I found my right school, I feel like.”
On his first impressions of the team
“Like I said, me and the guys, we came a long way just from this first month, you know, getting help from DeWayne, and the team, it’s just been a blessing.”
On what the first month has been like for him personally
“Honestly, just getting better day by day. Coach Barnes, he’s coaching me hard. So honestly, just stacking days, just getting better day by day.”
On what Rick Barnes is harping on with him right now
“My defense. The whole country know I can score the ball, so just me, just working on my rotations, being right in the gaps. Defense.”
On what position he is working at.
“Right now, they got me playing four.”
On if they sold development based on his film or Tennessee’s track record
“I mean, honestly, just the track record of like guys he did put in the league, you know what I’m saying? I want to be pro, so like I said, I came to Tennessee, I felt like they’re gonna get me there, he’s gonna get me there.”
On who have been the verbal leaders on the team
“My boy DeWayne and my boy Kenbell (Duncan Campball), them two. They’ve been kind of really helping me.”
On how Tennessee sophomore forward DeWayne Brown has helped the newcomers understand what it’s like to play for the Vols
“I be in practice sometimes, I’ll get lost and he’ll kind of just help me a little bit. I mean, honestly, him just guiding us when we mess up.”
On his relationship with the rest of his freshman class: Manny Green, Ralph Scott and Marquis Clark; if he knew about them on the AAU circuit
“It’s been a great relationship. I didn’t play those guys on the circuit, so for us to be all on the same team, it’s a good thing.”
On playing AAU basketball in Knoxville; if that helped his decision
“It’s great, you know? It’s just amazing, honestly. I’m just glad to be here.”
On how he is liking the new Adidas uniforms
“I’m loving it. We’re in Adidas gear. I’m liking it, I’m loving it.”
On his strengths on offense
“I’d say getting to the rim, getting to my spots, and my (ability) to catch and shoot.”
On where his spots are
“Really just getting to the mid-range, getting down hill.”
On watching last year’s Vols get drafted
“Coach Barnes, him getting those guys there, I know my time’s gonna come.”
On his freshman class
“Oh, we got the best class, I feel like, honestly. We got a good class.”
Why he feels Tennessee has the best freshman class
“Shoot, we all can score, honestly. (Barnes) recruited a lot of scores this year. Even our freshman class, we can all get a bucket.”
Tennessee
Where Tennessee Baseball Players, Commits Land In Final MLB Mock Drafts, Rankings | Rocky Top Insider
The 2026 MLB Draft gets underway on Saturday afternoon to jump start MLB All-Star game festivities in Philadelphia. The two-day, 20-round draft is a highly important once for Tennessee baseball. While there are fewer current Vols projected to be selected, there will be no shortage of Tennessee prep signees and transfer commits who are draft risks.
We’ve compiled a number of both mock drafts and overall draft prospect rankings from a multitude of outlets that give us a look at where Tennessee players, transfers and commits could go. There’s a handful of Tennessee transfer commits who are not listed but are also draft risks including Wright State outfielder Andrew Duncan, Baylor shortstop Travis Sanders, FIU infielder Mario Trivella and Clemson right-handed pitcher Hayden Simmerson.
Taking a look at the mock drafts and draft rankings here.
More From RTI: Clemson Transfer Pitcher Commits To Tennessee Baseball
Current Tennessee player. Tennessee transfer commit. Tennessee high school signee
Mock Drafts
ESPN Two-Round Mock Draft
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 11 to Kansas City
- OF Trevor Condon — No. 14 to Miami
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 34 to Pittsburgh
- RHP Kaiden McCarthy — No. 51 to Pittsburgh
The Athletic One-Round Mock Draft
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 11 to Baltimore
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 24 to Seattle
CBS One-Round Mock Draft
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 18 to Cincinnati
Prospect Rankings
MLB Pipeline Top 250
- OF Trevor Condon — No. 13
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 16
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 25
- RHP Kaiden McCarthy — No. 61
- RHP/SS Cole Koeninger — No. 99
- SS Jack Dugan — No. 106
- C Sean Dunlap — No. 124
- RHP Shawn Sullivan — No. 132
- RHP Tyler Putnam — No. 139
- RHP Gary Morse — No. 141
- 3B/OF Henry Ford — No. 148
- LHP Jake McCoy — No. 152
- C/OF Garrett Wright — No. 190
- RHP Cannon Grant — No. 212
- RHP Bo Rhudy — No. 219
- LHP Ricky Ojeda — No. 243
ESPN Top 250
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 11
- OF Trevor Condon — No. 16
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 32
- C Sean Dunlap — No. 49
- RHP Kaiden McCarthy — No. 52
- RHP Gary Morse — No. 98
- RHP/SS Cole Koeninger — No. 107
- SS Jack Dugan — No. 109
- RHP Tyler Putnam — No. 112
- RHP Cannon Grant — No. 125
- 1B Cody Boshell — No. 142
- LHP Jake McCoy — No. 156
- C/OF Garrett Wright — No. 162
- 3B/OF Henry Ford — No. 183
- RHP Bo Rhudy — No. 201
Perfect Game Top 400
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 16
- OF Trevor Condon — No. 29
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 50
- RHP Kaiden McCarthy — No. 51
- RHP/SS Cole Koeninger — No. 62
- C Sean Dunlap — No. 68
- 3B/OF Henry Ford — No. 134
- 1B/OF AJ Curry — No. 153
- RHP Cannon Grant — No. 176
- RHP Tyler Putnam — No. 190
- SS Jack Dugan — No. 201
- LHP Jake McCoy — No. 227
- RHP Shawn Sullivan — No. 231
- RHP Gary Morse — No. 241
- LHP Ricky Ojeda — No. 251
- RHP Bo Rhudy 255
- SS Jaxson Wood — No. 262
- C/OF Garrett Wright — No. 269
- LHP Brandon Arvidson — No. 274
- SS Manny Marin — No. 375
- OF Reese Chapman — No. 386
- LHP Drew Christine — No. 387
Sissy arrived at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in 2000, where caretakers began monitoring and managing her osteoarthritis. Sanctuary leaders said a recent progression of the disease caused what they described as “clear signs” of pain and swelling in her right wrist.
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