By Stephen Mason
OKLAHOMA CITY — It’s a cruel twist of fate, and history repeats itself in the Women’s College World Series as Tennessee fell to Texas in the semifinals, ending its bid for the program’s first national championship.
The Games
Coming out of the winners’ bracket, Tennessee had two opportunities to get one win over Texas to punch its ticket to the finals; however, its offense just couldn’t do it. The team lost Game 1 5-2 and Game 2 4-0, eliminating them from the postseason.
“I thought we got a little bit frustrated at times, and that took us out of some at-bats. We were chasing things out of the zone and then taking things in the zone, which usually stems from you’re kind of overthinking things and getting a little bit frustrated,” head coach Karen Weekly said. “Part of that is maturity with players. Part of it’s preparation and making sure that they’re ready for those moments. Ultimately, it falls on my shoulders, and I take responsibility for it.”
Tennessee had an opportunity to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh in Game 1, with the bases loaded and the winning run at the plate. However, Elsa Morrison struck out looking, and Texas forced a winner-take-all Game 2.
The offense looked much bleaker in the second game, as the team mustered only two hits against Texas ace Teagan Kavan. Kavan dominated throughout Game 2 with 10 strikeouts on her way to shutting out the Lady Volunteers.
“I think Texas has a really good pitching staff, and we just weren’t at our best today. Kudos to them; we tip our hats to them, and they were just better than us today,” Emma Clarke said.
But the offense wasn’t the only thing not working for the Lady Vols today.
The team’s strength, pitching, put together one of its worst performances of the year in Game 1, giving up a season-high of 13 hits. Sophomore Erin Nuwer made the start for Tennessee, and she accomplished what was asked of her, getting through the Texas lineup without giving up any runs.
However, when she was replaced by Sage Mardjetko, things started going bad for the Lady Vols. Mardjetko gave up six hits and four runs, giving Texas the lead on a day when the offense was not performing.
With the damage done, Weekly brought Nuwer back into the game to finish it off, saving Karlyn Pickens for Game 2.
“Would have gone to Karlyn if we’d gotten a lead at some point in time. That was really what I was waiting for because you kind of have to balance how many bullets you’re going to use in Game 1 if you get to Game 2? You want to get to Game 2 and have a good plan with your pitching staff,” Weekly said. “I felt like we got to Game 2 with a good plan. We got to Game 2 with a rested Karlyn, and pitching wasn’t so much the problem today. We just didn’t mount an offensive threat.”
Pickens made her final start as a Lady Volunteer in Game 2, pitching all six innings. She came out of the game firing on all cylinders, striking out the first three batters she faced. Texas was able to adjust, though, and with some savvy infield hitting in the third, as well as a double by Reese Atwood, took a 3-0 lead.
“I thought Karlyn battled like the champ she is, and it was a great battle. They just got the best of us offensively,” Weekly said. “Kavan pitched a great game, but we never could seem to get in a rhythm to really do anything with her.”
Pickens ended the game with six strikeouts.
Texas plated another run in the fifth, and the defending champs cruised to the finals with a lot of momentum on their side, winning four straight games after dropping their first game in Oklahoma City to Tennessee last Thursday.
Pickens Closes a Chapter
Monday’s performance in the circle marks the end of an outstanding collegiate career by Pickens, who played all four years in Knoxville and made three trips to Oklahoma City with the Lady Volunteers.
“She is everything you would want in a young woman, in a human being, and I have to give so much credit to her parents and how they’ve raised her so incredibly loyal,” Weekly said. “In this day and age, when people jump ship and do it for the dollars, Karlyn had those opportunities, and Karlyn said, no, I’m a Lady Vol through and through.”
While it wasn’t the way she wanted to end her career, Pickens has left a mark on the Tennessee program that will last a long time after she moves on to the AUSL.
“I’ve soaked in and loved every single moment of it, and I’m very excited that my playing days aren’t over, but it’s definitely the end of a chapter. It sucks that I won’t get to put on this uniform again, but I’m just so grateful for all the experience I’ve had,” Pickens said.
The Lady Volunteers will lose a leader who not only helped her fellow pitchers improve and take on larger roles this season but also helped the rest of her teammates prepare for a locker room without her.
“I’m just so grateful for her because she’s taught us how to be a leader, how to be accountable, how to love one another, and just truly embodies everything that Lady Vols softball — like, that’s exactly who we want to be. I couldn’t be more blessed to get not only one year, but two years with you (Pickens), so thank you,” Clarke said.
While Tennessee will be without Pickens next year, all nine players in the batting order are eligible to return, as well as a solid portion of their pitching staff, giving Weekly a solid foundation to try and make it back to Oklahoma City next year.
“I would say just to continue to be them, be confident, play with joy, and just win it next year,” Pickens said.