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.
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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
Tennessee State Senators Michele Reneau of Signal Mountain and Bo Watson of Hixson spoke today about the new law supporting police K-9’s.
The act allows injured dogs to get stabilization services on-site and then be transported via ambulance or helicopter to a vet hospital.
“In the past, officers were basically putting the k9 in their car and transporting them in their in their own vehicle, they didn’t have an ambulance or an air ambulance,” said Senator Watson. “This allows for an air ambulance. It also allows for a educational program for those in EMS, who will be taught how to manage canines emergency medical condition, which is different than a human’s.”
In April, Erlanger flew a K9 officer from Clay County, to North Carolina.
It was the first time the program was used for a live transport after several training runs.
Tennessee softball’s path back to the Women’s College World Series is set. On Sunday night, the Lady Vols were named the No. 7 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will host the regional stage in Knoxville as it looks to return to the WCWS in back-to-back seasons.
The Lady Vols are matched up with Virginia, Indiana and Northern Kentucky in the regionals. It would play Georgia, Clemson, UNC Greensboro or Charleston in the super regionals.
Ahead of the tournament, here’s a look at each team in the Knoxville Regional and potential matchups for the ensuing best-of-three super regional if Tennessee advances.
Tennessee rowing won the program’s first SEC championship in a thrilling finish on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge.
The title came down to the final race with the varsity eight boat, which had the lead against Texas going into the final 250 meters. The Longhorns made a late push to overtake the Lady Vols, but the 1V8 crew held on for the victory to secure the SEC championship on May 10.
Tennessee narrowly beat Texas 79-75 to win the title. It’s the first time the Lady Vols have won a conference championship since 2013 when they were a member of Conference USA.
The program’s first SEC title comes in the third season under coach Kim Cupini, who has transformed Tennessee into a national powerhouse.
“Phenomenal to see that from the team”, Cupini said in a school release. “Texas coming in was the number one team in the country and had that undefeated eight. So to see the varsity eight clinch like that was awesome. I have to take my hat off to the full team to get enough points to win the SEC Championship and bring that championship home, especially here at home in Tennessee. So, I was super impressed and super proud of them.”
Tennessee moves on to the NCAA Championships at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Georgia, from May 29-31.
Tennessee narrowly beat Texas 79-75 with four total wins, which also included the 2V4, 3V8 and 3V4.
The 1V8 boat finished with a time of 6:06.939 for the win. The first varsity eight crew has beaten eight ranked opponents on the season.
The 2V4 was a crucial comeback win for Tennessee. The second varsity four crew fell behind early but caught up to and overtook Texas in the final 500 meters for the win, finishing with a time of 7:12.677.
“I think the boats on the water saw that,” Cupini said. “To be able to race from behind in the event and win is incredible. The second four, we were going crazy on that. It was a group that just got together the other day. They row together a lot as a team and as a group, but that lineup hasn’t been together. So to see them pull that off and get the win was incredible.”
Tennessee swept the third varsity races, with the 3V8 finishing with a time of 6:29.409 and the 3V4 finishing with a time of 7:16.747. The Lady Vols placed second in the 2V8 and 1V4, losing to Texas by a combined 11 seconds.
Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe
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