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.
MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Priority in-state 4-star ATH target Cameron Sparks places Vols in Top 6
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
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — On Thursday, Hands On and NewsChannel 5 staff will come together for a community-wide cleanup day.
The event, sponsored by NewsChannel 5 will take place from 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 5 as we assist in winter storm cleanup.
If you’d like to help volunteer, you can sign up here.
Rhori, Carrie, Lelan and Brittany will all be helping assist residents removing and sorting debris.
Important details for those wishing to volunteer:
Nashville’s Jefferson Street Sound Museum named stop on U.S. Civil Rights Trail
The Jefferson Street Sound Museum is a great little gem in North Nashville. The founder and curator turned his home into a museum to keep the legacy of historic Jefferson street alive. Now, it’s been named a stop on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. Aaron Cantrell takes us inside.
– Lelan Statom
KNOXVILLE ― Vanderbilt women’s basketball won at Tennessee for only the second time in program history, beating the Lady Vols 87-77 at Food City Center on March 1.
The Commodores (27-3, 13-3) are the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament, which begins March 4 in Greenville, South Carolina.
The regular-season finale featured multiple runs by both teams. Tennessee went on an 8-0 run in the second quarter and took a six-point lead into halftime. Vanderbilt went on an 8-0 run to end the third quarter, then went a 10-0 run in the fourth to put the game away.
The Commodores, who shot 53% from the field, were led by Mikayla Blakes, who finished with 34 points. Aubrey Galvan had 24 points, four rebounds and five assists, and Sacha Washington had 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
“The season has been really special, to be able to end it here at Tennessee with a win and secure I think the No. 2 seed in the SEC tournament,” coach Shea Ralph said. “So the double bye, it feels really cool. I’m happy for the team, but we are literally just getting started.”
Tennessee (16-12, 8-8) outrebounded Vanderbilt 32-29. The Commodores shot 17-for-20 on layups and had 27 fast-break points. Tennessee was 10-for-24 on layups.
The SEC Tournament will be held at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Vanderbilt will start play on March 6 and holds a bye into the quarterfinals, where it will play the No. 7 or No. 10 seed at approximately 5 p.m. CT.
Blakes put up another 30-point performance, her third straight and eighth in her past nine games. She added six rebounds and four assists, but also had six turnovers.
She made six 3-pointers, which ties her season high.
“She had 34 but her biggest buckets were when we had to happen,” Ralph said. “Her biggest moments in this game were when we had to happen. That kid shows up every time.”
Vanderbilt now has three straight wins over the Lady Vols, beating them last season in Nashville and once in the SEC Tournament.
“I think Tennessee is a great team,” Ralph said. “They will be for as long as women’s basketball exists. Playing here in front of this crowd is tough. It’s tough. So I was really proud of our team for being able to figure it out the second half and win, especially here at Tennessee.”
The Commodores have their most SEC wins in program history.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
ARLINGTON, TX — Tennessee baseball is trying to wrap up the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series on a good note against Virginia Tech today.
The 19th-ranked Vols (7-3) lost to UCLA and beat Arizona State for a split at Globe Life Field, the home of the Texas Rangers. They’re finishing this trip against Virginia Tech (7-3), a game that began at 11:30 a.m. ET (FloCollege streaming).
Virginia Tech lost 10-0 by run rule to Texas A&M in Game 1 and lost 15-8 to Mississippi State in Game 2.
Lefthander Evan Blanco (1-1, 2.00 ERA) got the start for the Vols. Right-hander Ethan Grim (0-0, 3.75 ERA) started for Virginia Tech.
Follow live updates here from Arlington.
Sam Grube struck out. Nick Lucorto singled to CF. Ethan Ball was hit by pitch to put runners on first and second. That ended UT starter Evan Blanco’s outing. Blanco allowed one run on two hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six, walked one and hit three batters, tossing 91 pitches.
Left-hander Mark Hindy replaced Blanco. Hindy struck out Treyson Hughes. Hudson Lutterman fouled out to end the threat. 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Chris Newstrom grounded out. Manny Marin flied out to CF. Ariel Antigua popped out. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB.
UT starter Evan Blanco made quick work of the Hokies, getting a strikeout, groundout and flyout. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Levi Clark grounded out. Reese Chapman flied out to RCF. Tyler Myatt flied out to CF. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB.
Nick Lucorto hit a solo home run, driving a 1-2 pitch over the LF wall to tie the game 1-1. Ethan Ball was hit by pitch. Treyson Hughes fouled out. Hudson Letterman reached on fielder’s choice, but UT couldn’t turn the double play. Owen Petrich flied out to RF. 1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors, 1 LOB.
Chris Newstrom flied out. Manny Marin popped out. Ariel Antigua reached on an infield single when he hit a grounder to the first baseman and beat the pitcher to the bag. Jay Abernathy walked to put two runners on base with two outs. Henry Ford singled through the middle to score Antigua from second and move Abernathy to third. Vols lead 1-0. Blaine Brown struck out to end the inning. 1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB.
Anderson French struck out. Pete Daniel walked and advanced to 2B on a balk. Sam Gates lined out. Sam Grube grounded out, stranding a runner on 2B. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB.
Levi Clark smashed a long flyout to the CF warning track, traveling more than 400 feet. Reese Chapman struck out. Tyler Myatt struck out. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB.
UT starter Evan Blanco only needed 12 pitches to get through a 1-2-3 inning, including two strikeouts. Treyson Hughes struck out. Hudson Lutterman flied out. Owen Pettrich struck out. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB.
Jay Abernathy struck out. Henry Ford flied out. Blaine Brown struck out. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB.
UT starter Evan Blanco hit leadoff hitter Sam Grube with a pitch. Nic Locurto flied out to RF. Grube was thrown by stealing by catcher Levi Clark. Ethan Ball struck out. 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee 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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