AUSTIN, Texas – No. 7 Tennessee claimed its second series win over a top-two opponent this season, knocking off top-ranked Texas 4-1 on Sunday at Red and Charline McCombs Field. It marks the Lady Vols’ first series victory over a No. 1-ranked team since 2013.
Tennessee (34-9, 9-6 SEC) wasted no time getting on the board. With the bases loaded and nobody out in the first inning, Sophia Nugent lifted a foul pop-up behind the plate. Texas’ catcher collided with a teammate in pursuit and fell, allowing Kinsey Fiedler to tag and score the game’s first run.
The Longhorns (39-5, 11-4 SEC) answered in the bottom half with a two-out RBI double to right field, briefly tying the game.
In the third, the Lady Vols regained the lead on back-to-back one-out doubles. Taylor Pannell set the table, and McKenna Gibson delivered with a hard-hit double to left, putting Tennessee ahead 2-1.
Gibson added to her standout performance in the fifth, driving in another run. After a leadoff walk and a single set the stage, a wild pitch advanced the runners before Gibson lifted a sacrifice fly to score Fiedler. In the seventh, Gibson’s third hit of the day brought home another insurance run to make it 4-1 Tennessee—it was her third RBI of the game.
IN THE CIRCLE
Karlyn Pickens was dominant once again, earning her second win of the weekend. The junior right-hander allowed one run on six hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts, improving to 17-4 on the year.
Over the weekend, Pickens was nearly untouchable. She went 2-0 with a 0.93 ERA, throwing two complete games and striking out 20 batters while allowing just two runs on 10 hits across 15 innings.
CHECK THE STATS
According to the SEC Network, Tennessee becomes just the second team in SEC history to win series over both the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the same season.
Gibson was a force at the plate throughout the weekend, finishing 4-for-9 with a home run, five RBIs, and a run scored. In Sunday’s finale, she went 3-for-3 and drove in three of Tennessee’s four runs.
The Lady Vols’ last series win over a No. 1 team came in 2013, when they took two of three from Alabama in Knoxville.
DUE UP
Tennessee returns home April 17-19 to host Auburn in a three-game SEC series over Easter weekend. The series will run Thursday through Saturday.
