Tennessee softball went out to California for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic and rewrote the school record book this past weekend.
From Karlyn Pickens tossing a perfect game to Kiki Milloy breaking the career home runs record, it was a memorable trip out west.
Here’s the rundown from the week of softball.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM
Game one in the trip out west was eventful. While taking down Loyola Marymount 4-0, Milloy’s blast to left not only provided insurance but also etched her name into the record book.
The home run marked No. 58 in her career which passed Meghan Gregg for the most in school history. She also holds the single-season home run record after breaking it in 2023.
This wasn’t the only history made on Friday, though. Pickens would go all seven innings without allowing a single runner and completing the perfect game. She struck out 12 in the effort.
Pickens now joins Monica Abbott and Erin Gabriel as the only Lady Vols to have thrown multiple perfect games in their Tennessee career.
The second game on Friday didn’t go as planned. Against Cal State Fullerton, the bats slowed down and the pitching couldn’t limit things in the field.
Tennessee struck first with a Taylor Pannell home run in the second but gave up 11 runs in the final four innings before being run-ruled.
Payton Gottshall was handed the loss in the circle after starting the game and throwing 3.2 innings and allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits.
Tennessee bounced back strong the next day, though. It took down Oregon State 6-1 with Gottshall back in the circle.
She threw a complete game and allowed one run on four hits while striking out nine. This improved her record to 3-2 on the season.
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At the plate, home runs from Milloy, Rylie West and Sophia Nugent helped create the five-run difference in the game.
Tennessee wrapped up Saturday with a second win. Against UCF, the Lady Vols used a shutout to come out on top.
It was once again Pickens dominating on the rubber. She threw the complete game shutout despite allowing six hits. Her 14 strikeouts were a career-high as batters struggled to put the ball in play.
Pannell’s two-RBI double and a fielding error on a ball hit by McKenna Gibson are what gave Tennessee its three runs in the win.
Sunday featured a dominating win to get the day started. Against Hawai’i an effective approach at the plate and in the circle got the job done.
Tennessee would jump to an 8-0 lead through three innings before allowing a run. Home runs by West and Zaida Puni helped reach the mark.
The Lady Vols used both Ryleigh White and Charli Orsini in the circle with Orsini earning the win. They combined to allow just two runs on eight hits.
Tennessee’s win streak came to an end in the final game of the trip. No. 19 UCLA got the best of the Lady Vols with Pickens and Gottshall pitching.
The Bruins produced six runs with two home runs and nine hits. The pair did strike out eight in six innings of work.
At the plate, Destiny Rodriguez homered to start the game but the Lady Vols’ only other run was a Nugent bomb in the fourth inning.
Overall, it was a 4-2 trip to California with a five-game stretch at home next weekend.
â Mar. 1 (Fri): vs. Stetson (Tennessee Classic)
â Mar. 1 (Fri): vs. Brown (Tennessee Classic)
â Mar. 2 (Sat): vs. TBD (Tennessee Classic)
â Mar. 2 (Sat): vs. Longwood (Tennessee Classic)
â Mar. 3 (Sun): vs. TBD (Tennessee Classic)
*All games played in Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville
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.
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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.
*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.
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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.
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