Tennessee softball loses series opener to Arkansas

Jack Church, Assistant Sports Editor

March 23, 2025

Infielder McKenna Gibson #24 of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers during the game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, TN.

Tennessee softball opened its series with a 6-3, extra-inning loss to Arkansas.

Karen Weekly and the No. 7 Lady Vols (26-5, 2-2 SEC) dropped the opening game of the series to the No. 14 Razorbacks (20-6, 2-5) after conceding three runs in the eighth inning.

Karlyn Pickens threw all eight innings for the Lady Vols, giving up three earned runs in the regulation seven innings and three unearned runs in the eighth. She gave up eight hits and four walks while striking out 10 Arkansas batters.

Tennessee’s offense only mustered four hits in the loss. Arkansas pitcher Robyn Herron threw 16 strikeouts against the Lady Vols.

Tennessee will look to even the series Sunday at noon.

Tennessee softball loses in extras: How it happened

Arkansas started the scoring in the second inning with a two-run home run from Courtney Day. The Razorbacks put two more runners on, but the Lady Vols ended the inning by making two outs.

McKenna Gibson’s home run tied the game in the bottom of the third inning. The two-run shot also plated Kinsey Fiedler, who picked up a walk.

The Razorbacks put together a strong fifth inning offensively, loading the bases with one out. Kailey Wyckoff’s single to right field drove in a run to put Arkansas back in the lead.

Gibson led off the sixth inning with a walk. Amanda Ahlin pinch ran for her and scored on a double from Sophia Nugent, tying the game again. The Lady Vols put on another runner but made two outs to end the inning with just one run.

Arkansas loaded the bases quickly in the top of the eighth by taking advantage of a fielding error and hitting two singles. A sacrifice fly put the Razorbacks ahead by one with two runners still aboard. Pickens hit the next batter to reload the bases and allowed two walks, putting Arkansas up three.

Tennessee couldn’t get anything going on offense in the eighth. Nugent tried to start a rally with a two-out single, but Destiny Rodriguez struck out to end the game.