
Karen Weekly welcomes two former assistants back to Knoxville when Tennessee softball faces Auburn.
The No. 4 Lady Vols (34-9, 9-6 SEC) start their series against the Tigers (27-17, 4-14) at 6 p.m. on SEC Network Plus. Auburn is coached by Chris and Kate Malveaux, who left to coach the Tigers after three seasons on Weekly’s staff.
Follow along with live updates from Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Live updates and box
Auburn 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 – 2 4 1
No. 4 Tennessee 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 – 4 10 0
Mid 1st: Karlyn Pickens sends Auburn down in order.
End 1st: Tennessee leads off the inning with two hits but doesn’t score.
Mid 2nd: Pickens and the Lady Vols send Auburn down in order again.
End 2nd: The Lady Vols can’t take advantage of Ella Dodge’s two-out double.
Mid 3rd: Auburn puts two on but can’t find a run.
End 3rd: Taylor Pannell hits a one-out single but Tennessee can’t build on that.
Mid 4th: Auburn goes down in order again.
End 4th: Emma Clarke hits a two-out infield single, but Ella Dodge flies out to end the fourth.
End 5th: Both teams go down in order.
Top 6th: AnnaLea Adams drives in two runs with a single. Auburn leads, 2-0.
Bot 6th: Sophia Nugent’s solo home run brings Tennessee within one. Auburn leads, 2-1.
Bot 6th: Gabby Leach’s home run ties the game. Auburn and Tennessee are tied at two.
Mid 7th: Auburn goes down in order, giving Tennessee a walk-off opportunity.
Bot 7th: Taylor Pannell’s two-run home run walks off Auburn. Tennessee wins, 4-2.
Lineups
Tennessee
1. Kinsey Fiedler (CF)
2. Taylor Pannell (3B)
3. McKenna Gibson (1B)
4. Sophia Nugent (C)
5. Laura Mealer (SS)
6. Gabby Leach (RF)
7. Emma Clarke (DP)
8. Ella Dodge (2B)
9. Saviya Morgan (LF)
SP: Karlyn Pickens
Auburn
1. Abbey Smith (CF)
2. Nelia Peralta (SS)
3. AnnaLea Adams (1B)
4. Icess Tresvik (RF)
5. KK McCrary (LF)
6. Anna Wohlers (3B)
7. Amelia Lech (DP)
8. Skylar Elkins (C)
9. Rose Roach (2B)
SP: Malayna Tamborra
A look at the Tigers
Auburn is playing their best softball of the season now. After an 0-12 start to conference play, the Tigers won their first series of the year at Kentucky and followed that up by beating Georgia at home.
The Tigers have been strong on offense of late. They scored 11 runs to take the series opener against Georgia by a run and scored eight to win the series Sunday. Auburn has hit 54 home runs this season, one more than Tennessee albeit in one less game.
Eleven different Tigers have home runs this year, led by Icess Tresvik who has 10 dingers. AnnaLea Adams has hit nine home runs and leads Auburn with a .398 average.
In the circle, Auburn has a 4.19 ERA, 153rd in the country and last in the SEC. SJ Geurin leads the Tigers with 131.1 innings pitched and a 2.93 ERA. She has a 17-8 record this year.
Karlyn Pickens named pitcher of the week again
Karlyn Pickens was named the NFCA pitcher of the week for the third straight week, the only pitcher in history to do so. She was also the SEC’s co-pitcher of the week alongside Alabama’s Catelyn Riley and has been honored by the conference for three straight weeks.
Pickens started all three games at Texas but was pulled after one inning in Friday’s game. She threw all seven innings in wins Saturday and Sunday, allowing one run each day and a total of 10 hits. She struck out 20 batters across 15 innings of work on the Forty Acres.
Pickens ranks third in college softball with an ERA of 0.94 behind Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady and Grand Canyon’s Meghan Golden. Tennessee’s team ERA of 1.69 is first in the country ahead of Grand Canyon, Oregon and Marist.
Tennessee softball vs. Auburn series schedule
Game 1: Thursday 6 p.m. SEC Network Plus
Game 2: Friday 6 p.m. SEC Network Plus
Game 3: Saturday 2 p.m. SEC Network Plus
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