Michael Allen 
Karlyn Pickens begins her windup before delivering a pitch. Pickens had 13 strikeouts in her first appearance against Liberty on Friday
SEO Meta Description: Tennessee Lady Vols softball defeated No. 25 Liberty 6-1 behind Karlyn Pickens’ 13 strikeouts, then run-ruled Rutgers 9-1 to complete a dominant doubleheader sweep.
The Tennessee Lady Vols softball team passed an early season test with flying colors, sweeping a doubleheader that featured their first top-25 opponent of the year. Tennessee took down No. 25 Liberty 6-1 behind a dominant performance from ace Karlyn Pickens before rolling past Rutgers 9-1 in run-rule fashion in the nightcap.
Pickens Dominates as Lady Vols Top No. 25 Liberty
Liberty struck first in the opening inning, taking advantage of a leadoff single and a pair of passed balls to grab a 1-0 lead. After allowing the run, Pickens slammed the door, striking out the final batter of the inning and settling into a rhythm that Liberty never solved.
Tennessee answered immediately in the bottom of the first. Sophia Knight drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a groundout before scoring on Elsa Morrison’s sacrifice fly to even the score at 1-1.
The game stayed deadlocked through three innings as Pickens worked around traffic, including two walks in the third, while Tennessee left Knight stranded after a double in the bottom half of the inning.
The Lady Vols broke through in the fourth in emphatic fashion. Ella Dodge opened the inning with a single, stole second, and moved to third on a wild pitch. Emma Clarke crushed a 3-1 pitch down the left-field line for a two-run homer, and Taelyn Holley followed immediately with a solo shot to left-center, pushing Tennessee in front 4-1.
Tennessee added insurance in the fifth after Liberty committed a costly throwing error. With runners on, Clarke reached on the miscue, allowing Gabby Leach and pinch-runner Zoie Shular to score and extend the lead to 6-1.
From there, Pickens took over completely. She allowed just one base runner in the sixth and closed the game by striking out the final two batters in the seventh, finishing with 13 strikeouts in a statement win over a ranked opponent.
Lady Vols Run-Rule Rutgers in Game Two
Transfer pitcher Maddi Rutan got the start in game two and quickly benefited from explosive run support. Tennessee erupted for six runs in the bottom of the first inning, effectively putting the game away early.
Rutan retired Rutgers in order in both the first and second innings, while the Lady Vols added two more runs in the second, highlighted by a two-run home run from Makenzie Butt to make it 8-0.
Rutgers managed its lone run on a leadoff home run in the third, ending Rutan’s outing. Erin Nuwer entered and recorded the final out of the inning, then continued her strong start to the season by retiring the Scarlet Knights in order over the next two frames.
Tennessee tacked on one final run in the fourth when Taelyn Holley scored on Bella Faw’s infield single and a throwing error, setting up the 9-1 run-rule victory.
Nuwer closed the game by setting Rutgers down in order in the fifth, preserving her no-hit bid for the season and sealing a dominant weekend sweep.
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