By Sawyer Hunley
After a third-best start in program history with a double-header sweep on Saturday, undefeated No. 1 Tennessee was a perfect 4-0 at the Tennessee Invitational, having already collected wins over Appalachian State, Penn State, and North Carolina Central.
What stood ahead was a rematch with the Mountaineers on Sunday afternoon.
It would be no trouble for the Lady Vols, cruising to a 6-2 victory in front of a full Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee’s ace Karlyn Pickens received the nod in the circle.
Pickens came into the day with a 0.37 ERA and an undefeated record.
It would be an abnormal start to the game for Pickens as she hit the first batter she faced and gave up a home run to the next.
The second inning was a struggle for Pickens, as Appalachian State loaded the bases.
“Moments like those aren’t your favorite, but they definitely are learning moments,” said Pickens.
But that was when the switch flipped for Pickens.
She was able to get a fly out to end the second inning, and she never looked back from there, allowing only one more hit and recording 15 strikeouts in the game.
The fifteen strikeouts for Pickens tie her career high.
The offense also struggled for Tennessee in the early innings of the contest, but in the third inning, the bats came alive.
It all started with a single from center-fielder Sophia Knight, who had two hits and drew two walks on the day.
After that, Tennessee continued to pass the bats and play very fundamental softball.
The first two runs of the game were pushed across thanks to sac flies from Ella Dodge and Elsa Morrison.
After the sac-fly from Morrison, Taelyn Holley stepped to the plate and knocked her first triple of the young season.
Holley’s triple was followed up by a big RBI single for Alannah Leach, which gave Tennessee the lead at 3-2.
From there, the offense again went quiet.
That was until the sixth inning, where Ella Dodge again came up huge in a clutch situation and hit a three-run home run to tack on insurance runs for the Lady Vols.
“You can tell her this is what you need to do and she’s gonna go do it,” said head coach Karen Weekly.
This win over App State moves the Lady Vols to 19-0 on the season, now the second-best start in program history.
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will have their first midweek game of the season on Tuesday as they clash with Belmont. After that, Tennessee will set its sights on conference play as it welcomes LSU into Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on Friday.