For the second straight season, Tennessee softball has won the SEC regular season championship. The Lady Vols clinched the title with an 8-3 win over Kentucky and Texas A&M’s loss to Florida.

The No. 3 Lady Vols (39-9, 18-5 SEC) clinched the title with the win over the No. 24 Wildcats (30-20, 8-15). For the second time during the weekend, the Lady Vols came back from an early deficit to defeat Kentucky.

“You never like getting down,” Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly said. “But I like that we had to fight our way back. … I think every team has to prove to themselves that they can win any kind of game, and I think this team needed to prove that to themselves.”

Tennessee has now won three SEC regular season championships and two consecutive titles. The Lady Vols have won all eight SEC series this season.

After a strong relief appearance Thursday, Payton Gottshall began her outing with a scoreless first inning. The Lady Vols threatened by putting two runners on, but Sophia Nugent’s flyout ended the inning.

Kentucky put two runners in scoring position in the third inning. Ally Hutchins drove both in with a three-run home run to left field, giving the Wildcats the first lead of the game.

Nugent scored Tennessee’s opening run in the bottom of the third, driving in Amanda Ahlin on a single. Taylor Pannell added a second run for the Lady Vols with a single, plating Rylie West.

Karlyn Pickens entered to pitch the fourth inning. She struck out the first batter she faced, and the inning ended after Tennessee’s infield turned a double play.

The play by Destiny Rodriguez wasn’t called on the field, but it counted after video review.

“A lot of times on that play, you just get one,” Weekly said. “But Laura (Mealer) was in a position to make the turn. Then I was like, ‘Is everybody seeing something different at first base?’ I thought she was clearly out.”

Giulia Koutsoyanopulos led off the fourth inning with a base hit, and Jamison Brockenbrough walked. Brockenbrough was able to execute her role when she was called to bat, which proved crucial when Kiki Milloy stepped to the plate.

“I think she did a good job of just making adjustments because you can kind of see those first two swings at those high pitches,” Milloy said. “That’s not the pitch that she can drive.”

Milloy struggled at the plate early in the game. When she came up with two runners on, she knew she wasn’t going to miss.

“The first pitch that I see three to five, I’m just hunting,” Milloy said. “I’m getting in there. I’m ready to attack.”

Milloy took the first pitch she saw out of the park, putting the Lady Vols into the lead with a three-run homer. Milloy earned the program record for career total bases with the home run.

Tennessee continued to threaten as it loaded the bases with one out. Destiny Rodriguez’s walk drove in a run, allowing the Lady Vols to bat around.

Pannell added to Tennessee’s lead with a two-run home run, putting the Lady Vols up five. Pickens closed out the game by sending Kentucky down in order, finishing four scoreless innings in relief.

After starting on Thursday, Pickens came in relief in Friday’s win. Both pitchers are able to help each other get out of tough situations.

“It’s great knowing whoever goes out that day, we’re just going to compete and do our job,” Pickens said. “For example today, she didn’t have exactly what she wanted. I came in and did the job. Yesterday, same thing for me. She came in, does the job. So whatever happens, we always have each other’s backs.”

After Texas A&M’s loss, the pressure isn’t on the Lady Vols in Saturday’s series finale. Still, Tennessee expects to find success as it attempts to sweep Kentucky.

“Last year, we clinched it in game two, and then we came out and we kind of laid an egg,” Milloy said. “So, not wanting to repeat what happened. I think we’re going to make sure that we do things a little bit differently.”