by Jack Glennon
KNOXVILLE, Tenn – On Friday, the Tennessee Lady Vols Softball team continued SEC play with a 8-0 victory over the visiting Mississippi State Bulldogs in just 5 innings.
The Bulldogs came out strong, getting runners on second and third base with nobody out in the first inning. Lady Vols Starting Pitcher Karlyn Pickens worked her way out of the jam.
The Lady Vols’ lineup wasted no time supporting their ace, bringing 3 runs across against Mississippi State pitcher Raelin Chaffin in the opening frame. 2 of these runs came across on a Kinsey Fiedler home run.
The final run of the first inning was brought across by a Sophia Nugent single.
After the first inning, Mississippi State’s lineup struggled to make any sort of contact against the Lady Vols’ star pitcher.
Across 5 innings of work, Pickens threw 75 pitches (49 of which were strikes), giving up 4 hits (none of which were XBH), and no walks. She added 6 strikeouts and did not allow a single earned run.
After the game, I asked Lady Vols’ Head Coach Karen Weekly where Pickens’ confidence level is heading into the back end of the season.
She told me, “… [Mississippi State] threw a punch… and for Karlyn to get us out of that jam… that’s just a testament to her growth [and] ability…
Her lineup brought across 5 more runs in the 5th and final frame, complimenting her dominant outing nicely.
McKenna Gibson shot a solo home run over the center field wall, her 7th of the season. This gave the Lady Vols a 4-0 lead.
Sophia Nugent and Laura Mealer singled. Gabby Leach walked, loading the bases for Emma Clarke. Clarke knocked a double to left field, plating a pair.
This gave the Lady Vols a 6-0 lead, and Kinsey Fiedler came up to bat with a chance to send the Sherri Parker Lee Stadium crowd home happy.
Fielder came through, knocking a base hit to right field. Saviya Morgan and Gabby Leach scored, giving the Lady Vols an 8-0 lead, and invoking the mercy rule.
Following her walk-off single, I asked Kinsey Fielder what has helped her slow the game down this year.
She told me, “Just maturity… I’m trying to take in all these last moments for what they are… soaking it in.”
The win improved the Lady Vols’ record to 31-7 (6-4 SEC), while it dropped Mississippi State’s to 30-9 (6-4 SEC).
These two teams will square off again tomorrow for a pair of games. The front end of the double header will begin at 4 PM Eastern, while the second game will commence at 6:30.