OKLAHOMA CITY – The most exciting game of the 2026 WCWS did not disappoint in Devon Park on Saturday afternoon.
Emma Clarke led Tennessee past Texas Tech, hitting a walk-off home run to win 2-1 on the second pitch of the bottom of the ninth inning. The Lady Vols (49-10, 16-8 SEC) started the WCWS 2-0 for the first time since 2013 and will head to the semifinals.
The Red Raiders (58-8, 21-3 Big 12) nearly added to their collection of comeback wins this season, but great pitching and fielding in extra innings allowed Clarke the opportunity to end the game.
“I felt like we rode the waves of momentum really well,” head coach Karen Weekly said. “It would have been easy when they scored that run late to kind of fall off emotionally. We didn’t do that.”
Pitching masterclass
The top two picks in the AUSL draft went toe-to-toe for the only time in their collegiate careers, and it was nothing short of a pitcher’s duel for most of the game.
The No. 1 overall pick in Karlyn Pickens pitched 6.2 innings, allowing five hits and three walks in the win. She allowed the lone run but racked up six strikeouts.
On the other side, Nijaree Canady didn’t get the start, but had a solid outing otherwise. The No. 2 overall pick pitched just 3.2 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three batters.
While the duo was the headliner of the game, Sage Mardjetko and Texas Tech’s Kaitlyn Terry were just as important.
Despite Weekly’s tendency to split games between pitches, Mardjetko wasn’t needed until late in the game. She gave Tennessee exactly what it needed: 2.1 innings of great pitching.
“We hadn’t really set an innings limit on anything,” Weekly said. “It was more about just evaluating how she was commanding her pitches, utilizing her change-up, and whether we were able to command both sides of the plate.”
She came in with two outs and two runners in scoring position to deliver the final out in the top of the seventh. She handled both extra innings, walking two but not allowing a hit. She struck out two of the nine batters she faced.
Terry got the nod to start and finish the game for the Red Raiders. She threw 4.1 innings, striking out four but allowing three hits in the loss.
A pair of solo home runs wins it
Tennessee’s pair of home runs from Taelyn Holley in the fifth inning and Emma Clarke in the ninth was just enough to squeeze past Texas Tech.
Both the Lady Vols’ starting freshmen now have home runs in Oklahoma City, as Holley joins Elsa Morrison after her three-run shot on Thursday.
Holley’s sixth home run of the year squeaked over the left field wall, breaking the tie and giving the Lady Vols the first lead of the game.
“It’s really cool that freshmen have had two of our most special moments here so far with Elsa a couple of days ago and now Tae,” Weekly said. “We knew when we recruited this class, they were really, really special players.”
After Texas Tech tied the game in the seventh, all it took was Tennessee’s recipe to win the game.
Rely on great pitching and hit a couple of bombs.
Clarke uncorked the second pitch of the bottom of the ninth into the right field stands, ending the game instantly.
“Honestly, just looking to swing at strikes and get something going for my team,” she said. “So being a lead-off, I just wanted to put the ball in play any way I could, and it worked out.”
Seventh inning antics
After just one walk in the first six innings, the team with the fourth-most walks in the nation managed three to help extend the game in the last.
Taylor Pannell got the rally started for Texas Tech. The former Lady Vol singled into left center field and was advanced after a walk to Kaitlyn Terry.
The duo both stole, putting two runners in scoring position with no outs.
Tennessee elected to intentionally walk Lauren Allred to load the bases, setting up a force at any bag, but the strategy nearly backfired immediately.
With the bases loaded and the game on the line, catcher Lagi Quiroga struck out swinging to give the Vols a much-needed out.
Pinch hitter Desirae Spearman stepped in and delivered a sacrifice fly to center, but Pannell was tossed out at home for the final out.
What followed was a sequence of chaos at home plate. Texas Tech challenged the initial out call — and won, with the runner ruled safe after review. Tennessee burned its own challenge, arguing that Pannell had left early, but the ruling was confirmed, and the game was tied.
Tennessee turned to Mardjetko, who promptly walked a runner to load the bases. Mihyia Davis lined out to end the top half, but the damage had already been done.
“When Sage went in, I knew 100% she was going to get the job done,” Pickens said. “It’s nice to have that type of staff, who is out there, having that much confidence and trust, it’s pretty cool.”
Tennessee will play in the semifinals next, which will begin on Monday, June 1st at 12 p.m. ET.
