Tennessee softball picked up its first ranked win of the season, defeating Liberty 6-1 on Friday evening in Clearwater, Florida. The No. 4 Lady Vols (2-0) looked sharp after falling behind in the first frame, scoring six unanswered runs to end the game. Senior Karlyn Pickens logged 13 strikeouts in her season debut, allowing four hits to the No. 23 Flames (0-1).
The top of the first inning was rough for both Pickens and freshman catcher Elsa Morrison. The Flames quickly found themselves in scoring position after Pickens allowed a hit to the first batter. Two passed balls later, the runner stood on third base with just one out.
After a groundout and a walk, Liberty worked home the run. The Flames scored on a single, but that would be the only damage. Pickens easily took care of the fifth batter of the inning, earning her second strikeout of the frame.
The Lady Vols quickly evened the score. After junior Sophie Knight drew a walk, she stole second and advanced to third. Morrison continued her hot start in the batter’s box, driving the Boise State transfer home on a sacrifice fly to right field.
After a shaky start for Tennessee’s defense, it settled in. The Flames managed to get on base, but a groundout and two strikeouts by Pickens ended the frame.
The Lady Vols couldn’t capitalize in the bottom of the second inning, ending the frame on the wrong side of a double play and a fly out to center field.
The third inning saw just one hit. Liberty worked a pair of walks in the third, but a three-strikeout inning by Pickens held the Flames scoreless with two runners on base. Tennessee’s offense was held scoreless again, but Knight managed a double for her second hit of the evening.
Pickens added her eighth and ninth strikeout in the fourth inning, slamming the door on the Flames with a runner on third base after a fielder’s choice. After its hitting had registered two hits outside of the first inning, Tennessee broke the game open in a big way.
Redshirt sophomore Ella Dodge singled up the middle on the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth. She stole second and advanced to third after a wild pitch, getting a runner in scoring position without any outs. Sophomore Emma Clarke crushed her third career home run down the left field line, giving Tennessee a 3-1 lead.
Freshman Taelyn Holley followed up the two-run shot with a solo bomb of her own, sending the ball over the center field fence to extend the lead to three. The bottom of Tennessee’s lineup couldn’t keep the momentum rolling, grounding out twice and ending the three-run inning with a lineout to first base.
Pickens continued to cut down the Flames, ending the inning in nine pitches. Two groundouts and a flyout held Liberty scoreless as Tennessee began to pull away.
A walk and a single through the left side got two more on base for Tennessee as its bats continued to stay hot.
A shot to the left side by Clarke looked like it would be a routine out, but an issue handling the ball at first base led to two Tennessee runs. Sophomore Zoie Shuler and junior Gabby Leach both reached home, extending Tennessee’s lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the fifth.
Now down five runs, the Flames needed to respond with two innings left. A fielder’s choice picked up the first out for Tennessee, and Pickens struck the last two batters out as Liberty’s chances plummeted even further. The Lady Vols were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth, keeping its advantage at five.
The seventh inning would be the most uneventful of the evening for the Flames. A groundout and two more strikeouts ended the game, with the Lady Vols winning 6-1. Though allowing four hits and three walks, Pickens struck out 13 batters on 120 pitches in her season debut.
Tennessee will be back in action on Friday night, taking on Rutgers. The Lady Vols will continue their busy schedule with two more games on Feb. 7, against Boston College and Oregon.
