Michael Allen 
Erin Nuwer celebrates a strikeout in one of her appearances from the 2025 season. Nuwer no-hit the BYU Cougars in her first start of the 2026 season
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Tennessee softball opened the season in dominant fashion as Erin Nuwer threw a no-hitter and Elsa Morrison drove in five runs in a 10-0 run-rule win.
Tennessee softball couldn’t have drawn up a better start to the 2026 season, as the Lady Vols cruised to a 10-0 run-rule victory over the Cougars in five innings on opening day. Sophomore Erin Nuwer headlined the performance by throwing a no-hitter, while Tennessee’s offense wasted no time jumping out to an early lead.
Batting as the visiting team on the scoreboard, Tennessee struck first in the top of the opening inning. After Sophia Knight struck out swinging and Gabby Leach was hit by a pitch, freshman Elsa Morrison delivered her first big moment in orange with a double down the left-field line to score Leach. One batter later, Ella Dodge crushed a 3-1 pitch to deep center field for a two-run home run, giving the Lady Vols a 3-0 advantage before the Cougars even came to the plate.
Nuwer backed up the offense immediately, retiring the Cougars on three straight groundouts in the bottom of the first. She continued to control the game early, working around a leadoff walk in the second inning that was quickly erased by a double play before recording a strikeout to end the frame.
Tennessee’s offense had chances in both the second and third innings but left runners stranded after multiple leadoff walks. That didn’t matter much with Nuwer in the circle, as she struck out two and forced another groundout in the third to keep the no-hitter intact.
The Lady Vols broke the game open in the fourth inning. After Taelyn Holley grounded out, Meredith Barnhart, Bella Faw, and Knight all drew walks to load the bases. Leach grounded into a fielder’s choice, bringing home a run, and then Morrison delivered the knockout blow. The freshman launched a full-count pitch over the left-field wall for a three-run homer, pushing Tennessee’s lead to 7-0 and igniting the dugout.
Nuwer remained dominant in the bottom of the fourth, striking out one and forcing weak contact to strand another Cougar runner.
Tennessee added the final touches in the fifth inning. Emma Clark reached on a leadoff walk and was pinch run for by Zoie Shular, who later scored on a Makenzie Butt double to left-center. RBI contributions from Bella Faw and a bases-loaded walk to Morrison extended the lead to 10-0. Needing just three outs, Nuwer delivered again, retiring the Cougars in order to seal the run-rule victory.
Nuwer finished the day with her second career no-hitter, allowing just two walks while striking out five in a dominant season-opening performance. While much of the offseason attention centered around Karlyn Pickens, Nuwer made a loud statement that she will be a major factor in the Lady Vols’ pitching staff this season.
Morrison was equally impressive in her Tennessee debut, driving in five runs — the most ever by a freshman in their first game in program history. Between Nuwer’s dominance in the circle and a relentless offensive attack, the Lady Vols sent a clear message on opening day: this team is ready to make noise in 2026.
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