OXFORD, Miss. – No. 1/4 Tennessee bounced back in dominant fashion Saturday afternoon, shutting out No. 16 Ole Miss, 6-0, at Ole Miss Softball Stadium to even the series.
 
The Lady Vols (38-11, 13-7 SEC) broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a bunt single and a Rebel error. Taylor Pannell led off the frame with a bunt and advanced to second on a throwing miscue. A deep flyout moved her to third, and Sophia Nugent brought her home with a sacrifice fly to right.
 
Tennessee added to its lead in the fifth as Kinsey Fiedler drove in Ella Dodge with a two-out RBI single.
 
The Big Orange broke the game open in the seventh, scoring four runs on four hits. After loading the bases with two singles and a walk, Pannell delivered a three-run double to right, clearing the bags and giving UT a 5-0 advantage. She later came around to score on a fielder’s choice by Alannah Leach.
 
Ole Miss (34-13, 10-10 SEC) threatened in the sixth, stringing together back-to-back singles. However, Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens slammed the door with two strikeouts and a fielder’s choice to escape the jam.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
Pickens was electric in the circle, going the distance for her sixth shutout of the season. The junior right-hander allowed seven hits and a walk while striking out 10. The complete-game effort marked her 17th of the year and eighth double-digit strikeout performance of the 2025 campaign.
 
CHECK THE STATS
Pannell extended her on-base streak to 20 consecutive games, tying her career-high set earlier this season.
 
Pickens recorded her 200th strikeout of the season in the fourth inning—marking back-to-back 200-strikeout seasons. She’s the first Lady Vol since Ellen Renfroe (2013–14) to accomplish that feat.
 
DUE UP
Tennessee and Ole Miss wrap up the three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.

OXFORD, Miss. – A late rally came up just short for No. 1/4 Tennessee on Friday night, as the Lady Vols fell 3-2 to No. 16 Ole Miss at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
 
The Rebels (34-12, 10-9 SEC) capitalized early with a three-run second inning. After a hit-by-pitch and a walk put two runners aboard, an infield single down the third-base line brought home the game’s first run. Ole Miss executed a squeeze bunt to plate its second, followed by an RBI groundout to cap the inning.
 
Tennessee (37-11, 12-7 SEC) responded in the sixth. Freshman Saviya Morgan sparked the offense with a bunt single, and Kinsey Fiedler followed with a triple to right-center to drive her in. Taylor Pannell cut the deficit to one with a sacrifice fly to score Fiedler.
 
The Lady Vols threatened again with back-to-back two-out walks in the sixth but couldn’t cash in. In the seventh, UT put two runners on but was unable to push across the tying run.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
Karlyn Pickens started for Tennessee, allowing three runs on one hit in two innings. The junior walked one and struck out three as she took the loss, moving to 18-6 on the season.
 
Freshman Erin Nuwer was strong in relief, tossing four shutout innings while allowing just one hit. She struck out five and walked two.
 
CHECK THE STATS
Fiedler’s triple was her eighth of the season, tying her with Lady Vol legend and recent Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Lindsay Schutzler for the program’s single-season record.
 
Pannell extended her reached-base streak to 19 games with a single in the first inning. She is now one game shy of matching her career-best streak of 20, set earlier this season.
 
DUE UP
Tennessee and Ole Miss return to the diamond on Saturday for Game 2 of the series. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET and will be available for streaming on SEC Network+.