Karlyn Pickens pitches Tennessee softball to Women's College World Series with shutout vs Nebraska
Karlyn Pickens was surrounded by red jerseys with two outs in the fifth inning.
Tennessee softball was holding on to a one-run lead when the junior ace walked Nebraska left fielder Abbie Squier to load the bases. The Huskers waited at every base for a hit to even the score – but the hit never came.
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Lauren Camenzind didn't even put a swing on the first two strikes from Pickens. The crowd at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium rose to its feet, cheering and stomping on the bleachers, and then Pickens got her swinging, striking Camenzind out on three straight pitches to end the inning.
The back-to-back SEC Pitcher of the Year got better every game of the NCAA super regional, and on May 25, Pickens pitched the No. 7 Lady Vols back to the Women's College World Series.
Tennessee won 1-0 in a decisive Game 3 against Nebraska (43-15), and the Lady Vols (45-15) are heading to Oklahoma City for the second time in the last three seasons. Tennessee will face No. 2 seed Oklahoma (50-7) to open the WCWS on May 29 (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Pickens (24-9) started the game striking out Nebraska pitcher Jordy Bahl swinging. She finished with 10 strikeouts, two hits allowed, one walk and one hit by pitch. It took until the fifth inning for the Huskers to get a runner on base.
Ella Dodge is the hero again for Tennessee
Ella Dodge had only hit five home runs this season before the NCAA super regional, and she hadn't hit one since blasting the three-run homer to win Game 3 against Oklahoma in March.
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Then she homered in two straight days against Bahl, one of the best pitchers in the country.
Once Tennessee coach Karen Weekly made the lineup change for Game 2, moving Dodge to the No. 3 slot, she thrived. Dodge hit a two-run homer in the first inning of Game 2, and she hit another first-inning home run in Game 3.
This time Dodge's solo shot sailed to center field, where it bounced off the top of the outfield wall and hit the railing of the outfield stands before bouncing back into play. Dodge was called out at third originally, but after review, it was ruled a home run to put Tennessee up 1-0.
Tennessee defense at its best in Game 3
The Lady Vols' defense started the game like they were ready to get on the plane to Oklahoma City.
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After Pickens started the game with a strikeout, Tennessee's defense came up with huge plays to get out of the first inning. Dodge made a diving play at second base to field the hit, and she made the throw to first from the ground for the second out. Then Ava Kuszak tried to turn her single to the left field wall into a double, but Alannah Leach made the throw to second in time for the tag.
Kinsey Fiedler made a stunning play in center field for the second straight game, too. In the third inning, Fiedler slid into the Lady Vols logo in the outfield to catch the ball right before it hit the ground. In Game 2, she made a crucial catch at the center field wall to end an inning.
Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women's athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on X @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora's coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Karlyn Pickens shuts out Nebraska to pitch Tennessee softball to WCWS
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