Tennessee softball beat Oklahoma, 5-2, in eight innings to open the first ever SEC series between the teams.

Karen Weekly and the No. 9 Lady Vols (28-6, 4-3 SEC) beat Patty Gasso and the No. 2 Sooners (30-2, 8-2) with a three-run eighth inning. Former Oklahoma player Sophia Nugent gave Tennessee the lead with a two-run home run before Laura Mealer scored on a wild pitch, adding to the advantage.

Karlyn Pickens threw 5.2 innings for the Lady Vols, allowing six hits and one run while striking out six. She came in for Sage Mardjetko, who threw 2.1 innings.

Tennessee will look to win the series Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.

Tennessee softball takes down Oklahoma: How it happened

Tennessee loaded the bases in the first inning with two outs, but Oklahoma pitcher Sam Landry forced an out from Mealer to end the inning scoreless.

Landry wasn’t so lucky in the second inning. After hitting Ella Dodge with a pitch, Amayah Doyle hit a two-run home run to left-center, giving the Lady Vols the first lead of the game. The Lady Vols did not get the lead first in any of their three games against Arkansas.

Oklahoma got one run back in the third inning. After the Sooners loaded the bases, Pickens entered and allowed a flyout, scoring a run that was credited to Mardjetko. A second flyout ended the inning.

Abigale Dayton tied the game in the fifth with a solo home run. Pickens held her nerve later in the inning, keeping the game tied.

The Sooners put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh and put a single through the right side. Gabby Leach’s throw from right field got an Oklahoma runner out at home, and a fielder’s choice in the next at-bat ended the inning.

McKenna Gibson reached with a one-out single, and Nugent took the lead with a two-run home run to put Tennessee up, 4-2. Mealer singled on the next at-bat and later advanced to third before scoring on a wild pitch, giving Pickens a three-run cushion.

Tennessee’s ace didn’t need any cushion. She sent Oklahoma down in order to finish off the win.

Tennessee softball at Oklahoma series schedule

Game 1: Tennessee wins, 5-2 (8)

Game 2: Saturday 2 p.m. ESPN

Game 3: Sunday 2 p.m. SEC Network Plus