KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A trio of long balls and a brilliant outing in the circle led No. 7 Tennessee to a series-opening win over No. 25 South Carolina, 3-1, at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Following a base-loaded walk, Karlyn Pickens came out of the pen in the top of the third and one out, with one run home in the frame. Pickens shut the door, getting the next two batters out to limit the damage in the third. Pickens went 4.2 innings of no-hit, four-strikeout softball. Pickens moved to 9-3 on the season.
Following the win, Pickens was awarded with an Athletes Unlimited Softball League golden ticket, awarded to athletes that have been drafted into the league for the upcoming season.
Tennessee (31-5, 8-5 SEC) evened the game in the bottom of the fourth, courtesy of a solo blast off the bat of Emma Clarke. Alannah Leach would follow with a solo homer of her own, as the Big Orange went back-to-back to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Leach broke out the big swing again in the bottom of the sixth, launching her second home run of the evening to extend the Tennessee advantage to two.
Leach led the way on offense, going 2-3 with her two solo blasts. Clarke added two hits of her own, hitting the first of three home runs for the Lady Vols in the contest.
Sage Mardjetko got the start in the circle for the Lady Vols, going 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and striking out three as well.
The Gamecocks (22-17, 2-9 SEC) were limited to just three hits on the evening on Thursday, scoring their lone run on the bases-loaded walk in the third. Nealy Lamb (4-6) got the start for the Gamecocks, getting the loss after going four innings and giving up both Tennessee home runs in the fourth.
DUE UP
The Lady Vols continue their three-game set with the Gamecocks, with game two of the series slated to start at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
