Lady Vol pitcher Karlyn Pickens throws fastest pitch in college softball history
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee softball standout Karlyn Pickens wrote her name into the history books on Monday with a record-breaking pitch.
The reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year was facing off against Arkansas junior Kailey Wyckoff in the sixth inning of Monday's game in Knoxville when she fired a strike clocked at 78.2 MPH, the fastest in the history of recorded college softball.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the previous record for the fastest softball pitch by a woman was held by another Tennessee Lady Vol. Monica Abbott's 77 MPH pitch in a National Pro Fastpitch game had previously held the record since June 16, 2012.
Lady Vols take down Ohio State to punch ticket to Sweet 16
Pickens' record-breaking pitch comes just over a month after she tied Abbott's record during a 1-0 loss to Oregon.
No. 7 Tennessee beat No. 14 Arkansas by a score of 3-2 on Monday to avoid a sweep after the Razorbacks took the first two games of the series. Pickens pitched the final 4.1 innings to pick up the win and improve her season record to 11-4.
Meet the 24-year-old developer building 50+ housing units in Knoxville
It's been an eventful year for the junior from Weaverville, North Carolina. She recorded a career-high 15 strikeouts in a win over Tulsa in February. She completed a no-hitter against UT-Martin earlier this month, joining her teammate Peyton Tanner as the first duo of Lady Vols pitchers to record a no-hitter and a perfect game on the same day.
With Ben Joyce setting the record for fastest pitch in college baseball history back in 2022, Tennessee now boasts the recordholders for both sports at the collegiate level.
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