By Wyatt Stroupe
The Lady Vols secured a close 3-1 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first game of a three-game series.
The beginning of the game looked quite bleak for the Lady Vols, as they failed to score in any of the first three innings.
South Carolina would get on the board first in the top of the third when batter Ariana Rodi was walked with the bases loaded. Tennessee was forced to make a pitching change and bring ace Karlyn Pickens to the mound.
This choice turned the tide for the Lady Vols, as the next two batters would both be tagged out at second base.
In the very next inning, the Lady Vols would have an explosive offensive showing with two back-to-back home runs from Emma Clarke and Alannah Leach to surge into the lead.
This wouldn’t be Leach’s only home run, as she would go on to score another one in the bottom of the sixth inning, recording her seventh home run on the season.
“We love to feed off of each other,” Leach said. “Emma got us started. I loved that, it gave me confidence to go up there and just do it.”
Outside of Leach’s second home run in the bottom of the sixth, the rest of the game was quiet on the offensive side of the ball.
Pickens pitching helped the Lady Vols’ defense dominate the Gamecocks. The senior recorded a total of four strikeouts in the game, bringing her season total to 100.
There was something more grand waiting for Pickens.
After the game, everyone’s attention turned to the scoreboard as it was announced that former NCAA and Olympic softball player Jennie Finch would present the Lady Vol ace with the AUSL Golden Ticket.
This award guarantees the collegiate softball player it is presented to a spot in the 2026 Athletes Unlimited Softball League draft. The AUSL was founded in 2024 and played its inaugural season in 2025. This year, the AUSL is adding two more teams, including a team in Pickens’ home state of North Carolina.
“When you see the AUSL pop up there, you kinda have an idea of what’s going on. Just taking it all in, those moments where the video was playing,” Pickens said. “My teammates surrounding me, giving those hugs, it was awesome. I look forward to playing at the highest level.”
Since arriving on Rocky Top, Karlyn Pickens has become the face of collegiate softball. With two perfect games, three no-hitters, and the fastest pitch in NCAA history at 79.4 mph — equivalent to roughly 105 mph in baseball — the Weaverville, North Carolina, native has rewritten the record books. She guided Tennessee to the Women’s College World Series last season, delivering multiple 100-plus pitch performances along the way.
Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly knew Finich was presenting Pickens with the Golden Ticket postgame – it was not an easy secret to keep.
“It’s a culmination of four years of a lot of work,” Weekly said. “Karlyn is such a special one because she’s old school, Karlyn is loyal, Karlyn is humble, Karlyn is everything you want an athlete to be.”
Up Next: The No. 7 Lady Vols move to 31-5 on the season with two more games on tap over Easter weekend against the No. 25 Gamecocks.