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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where is Murray State? What to know of Racers baseball in NCAA super regionals
Where is Murray State? What to know of Racers baseball in NCAA super regionals Show Caption Hide Caption 5 men's NCAA baseball tournament players to watch The Mongomery Advertiser's Adam Cole and The Tennesseean's Aria Gerson break down the top players to watch in the men's NCAA baseball tournament. As the super regional round of the NCAA baseball tournament plays out across the country, seven unseeded teams look to continue causing havoc in the field by punching a ticket to the College World Series. One of those teams is Murray State. The Racers, who defeated No. 10 national seed Ole Miss to win the Oxford Regional, are currently in a best-of-three Durham Super Regional against Duke. Murray State is the 10th No. 4 seed to reach the super regional round of the NCAA baseball tournament, and the second in the last two years from the Missouri Valley Conference after Evansville made it to the Knoxville Super Regional last season. A super regional win against Duke would add another piece of history to Murray State's season, as the Racers are looking to become the first MVC team to reach the College World Series in over two decades. Here's what to know about Murray State: Where is Murray State located? Location: Murray, Kentucky Murray, Kentucky Student population: 8,111 (fall 2023) Murray State is located in Murray, Kentucky, which is located in the western part of the Bluegrass State, and was founded in 1992. It is one of eight four-year public universities in the state of Kentucky. According to U.S. News & World Report, Murray State had a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,111 in the fall 2023 semester. It was ranked eighth among top public universities in the South in 2025, according to U.S. News & World Report. Murray State is located 118 miles away from Nashville, Tennessee and 227 miles from St. Louis. What is Murray State's mascot? Murray State is known as the Racers, and its mascot is named Dunker. As noted on Murray State's website, the school was originally known as the Thoroughbreds, which came from the state of Kentucky's love for thoroughbred racing. However, that nickname was short-lived because it was too long a name for sports writers to use in headlines. After versions of T-Breds, 'Breds, Race Horses and Racers were used, Racers became the official name for Murray State's athletic programs in the late 1950s. What conference is Murray State baseball in? The Racers compete in the Missouri Valley Conference, and have been an affiliated member of the MVC since 2022. Prior to joining Missouri Valley Conference, which is the second-oldest NCAA Division I conference in the country, Murray State competed in the Ohio Valley Conference. Who is Murray State baseball's coach? Dan Skirka is in his seventh season as the skipper of Murray State baseball. He was hired as the ninth head coach in program history ahead of the 2018 season. Before being hired at Murray State, Skirka spent four seasons at Walters State Community College at the NJCAA level of college baseball, where he served as the recruiting coordinator. Being hired at Murray State was a reunion of sorts for Skirka, who served as assistant coach from 2009-14 under former Racers coach Rob McDonald. Outside of his first season at Murray State in 2019, the Racers have not had a losing season under Skirka. Skirka has led the Racers on a historic run this season, as his squad secured the program's first trip to the NCAA baseball tournament since 2003 by winning their first Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. Here's a full year-by-year breakdown of Skirka's tenure at Murray State: Career: 207-149 207-149 2019: 24-30 24-30 2020: 10-7 10-7 2021: 33-25 33-25 2022: 30-25 30-25 2023: 31-28 31-28 2024: 37-20 37-20 2025: 42-14 Murray State baseball 2025 record 2025 record: 42-14 (17-8 in Missouri Valley Conference) At 42-14 overall, the Racers are in the midst of one of the best seasons in program history. The Racers' 42 wins this season are a new single-season record for most wins in a season, and two more than their previous record of 40 wins in 1975. Murray State took the MVC Tournament with victories against Belmont, Southern Illinois, UIC and Missouri State. The Racers then won their first NCAA regional title at the Oxford Regional, which included two wins against No. 10 Ole Miss and a win over Georgia Tech. Murray State NCAA baseball history The 2025 NCAA baseball tournament is the fourth trip to the postseason for Murray State in program history, and the first since 2003. Here's a full list of when Murray State has appeared in the NCAA baseball tournament:
USA Today
30-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee star Karlyn Pickens sets NCAA record for fastest pitch: See comparisons
If the No. 3 Florida Gators hope to move on in the Women's College World Series, they'll have to get by pitcher who earlier in the NCAA tournament set the record for the fastest pitch ever thrown. No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers' ace Karlyn Pickens will take the mound Friday in the SEC vs. SEC matchup in the first elimination game of the Women's College World Series. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. Tennessee led defending four-time champion Oklahoma on Thursday before Sooners' slugger Ella Parker hit a three-run walk-off home run off Pickens and sent the Vols to Friday's WCWS elimination game. Florida was shut out Thursday by No. 6 Texas 3-0. How fast does Tennessee softball's Karlyn Pickens throw? In Game 1 of the Knoxville Super Regional, the Vols' right-hander set a new NCAA record for fastest pitch recorded with a 79.4 mph fastball on the seventh pitch of a first-inning at-bat to Nebraska's Jordy Bahl. Bahl, one of the other top pitchers in the country, fouled off the pitch. As noted by the Big Ten Network's Sydney Supple, Pickens' near-80-mph pitch gave Bahl (or any batter) a reaction time of .341 seconds to pick up and swing. The distance from the rubber on the pitcher's mound to home plate is 43 feet. How does Tennessee softball's Karlyn Pickens throw compare? Pickens' pitch against the Cornhuskers in May broke her previous NCAA record of 78.2 mph, which she set in March against Arkansas. Before setting the record against Arkansas in SEC play, Pickens had been tied with former Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott for the fastest pitch in NCAA history, a record that Abbott held for 13 years. Where can I watch the Florida vs Tennessee softball WCWS game? Streaming options: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial) ESPN app | Fubo (free trial) TV: ESPN ESPN will nationally televise the WCWS elimination game between Florida and Tennessee. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers. SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; NCAA; ESPN
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Karlyn Pickens by the numbers in College World Series against Oklahoma softball
Karlyn Pickens by the numbers in College World Series against Oklahoma softball No. 2 national seed Oklahoma (51-7) defeated No. 7 national seed Tennessee (45-16), 4-3, Thursday in the Women's College World Series at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Right-handed pitcher Karlyn Pickens (24-10) started for Tennessee against the Sooners. The 6-foot-1 junior pitched seven innings and recorded eight strikeouts. Pickens totaled 129 pitches, including 76 strikes, against 29 batters. She allowed five hits (two home runs), four runs and four walks. Pickens forced Oklahoma into five fly outs and seven ground outs. Thursday marked her 41st appearance and 31st start in 2025. Pickens also made her seventh appearance during the 2025 NCAA Tournament. She has recorded 57 strikeouts during NCAA Tournament play. More: Karlyn Pickens by the numbers against Nebraska Against Nebraska on May 24, Pickens set a record for the fastest pitch (79.4 mph) in NCAA softball history, breaking her own record of 78.2 mph. In three games against the Cornhuskers during the 2025 Knoxville Super Regional, she totaled 17.2 innings, 28 strikeouts and 284 pitches (179 strikes) against 70 batters. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee softball: How hard does Vols' star pitcher Karlyn Pickens throw?
Tennessee softball: How hard does Vols' star pitcher Karlyn Pickens throw? Show Caption Hide Caption Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady and Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens lead WCWS players to watch The Oklahoman's Jenni Carlson highlights several Women's College World Series key players to watch. Tennessee softball begins its seventh appearance in the Women's College World Series against a familiar program, which also happens to be the sport's biggest titan: Oklahoma. The Vols, however, have already had one successful swing at taking down college softball's Goliath this season, as they took the regular season head-to-head series against the Sooners. It was just one of three SEC regular-season series losses that Oklahoma, which is looking for its fifth straight national championship, had. A big reason for the Vols' regular-season success was their star junior pitcher Karlyn Pickens, who Tennessee will need to beat the Sooners on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. REQURIED READING: WCWS bracket 2025: Full schedule, matchups for NCAA softball tournament In that three-game weekend series back in March in Norman, Pickens went 2-0 in 12 2/3 innings of work and struck out 12 Sooners' hitters while giving up just four runs on 10 hits and three walks. The success the back-to-back SEC Pitcher of the Year had against OU is a small snippet of the dominance that she has showcased this entire season inside the circle for the Vols. A top-10 finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year award, Pickens put Tennessee on her back in the Knoxville Super Regional vs. Nebraska with back-to-back complete game performances to win the series. But as fans watch the Vols play for their first WCWS national title with Pickens in the circle, one thing will stand out above all the skills that the North Carolina native has while pitching: how hard she pitches. Here's what you need to know on how hard Pickens throws inside the circle: How fast does Tennessee softball's Karlyn Pickens throw? In short, very, very, very fast — like literally so fast. In Game 1 of the Knoxville Super Regional, the Vols' right-hander showed that she has more gas in the tank to showcase, as she set a new NCAA record for fastest pitch recorded with a 79.4 mph fastball on the seventh pitch of a first-inning at-bat against Nebraska's Jordy Bahl. Bahl, who is one of the other top pitchers in the country, would foul off the pitch. As noted by the Big Ten Network's Sydney Supple, Pickens' near 80 mph pitch gave Bahl (or any batter) a reactionary time of .341 of a second to pick up and swing at the pitch. The distance from the rubber on the pitcher's mound to home plate is 43 feet. Pickens' flame-throwing pitch against the Cornhuskers broke her previous NCAA record of 78.2 mph, which she set back in March against Arkansas. Prior to setting the record against Arkansas in SEC play, Pickens had been tied with former Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott for the fastest pitch in NCAA history, a record that Abbott held for 13 years. "She's definitely in a league of her own," Abbott recently told Knox News, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Pickens. Abbott added: "Some people were like, 'Oh, man, RIP to your record.' And I was like, 'Not really – like hell yeah, look at our sport.' I held that record for 10-plus years ... And we got someone that's just a junior in college breaking it? That's incredible." REQUIRED READING: There's more to Tennessee flamethrower Karlyn Pickens than the fastest pitch ever in softball Karlyn Pickens softball stats Pickens enters the WCWS with a 24-9 record and a 1.00 ERA in 204 innings of work in the circle this season. She has recorded a career-high 280 strikeouts while throwing 22 complete games, two of which came in the Knoxville Super Regional vs. Nebraska. Her 1.00 ERA in the circle this season leads all Tennessee pitchers and ranks second in the country, only behind Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady's 0.89 ERA. Here's a game-by-game breakdown of Pickens' stats this season in the NCAA softball tournament:
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tennessee softball's Karlyn Pickens, NCAA record holder for fastest pitch ever, in images
Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens, the flame-throwing right-hander catching national attention from the circle, has topped what seemed un-toppable. The Lady Vols star had a pitch clocked at 79.4 mph, which sets the record as the fastest in NCAA history. The record-setting moment happened during Game 2 of the Knoxville Super Regional against Nebraska. The previous record holder? Karlyn Pickens. She rewrote the record books this season against Arkansas, with a pitch clocked at 78.2 mph. In baseball comparisons, both pitches would be over 100 mph. Perhaps the most impressive part of the dominance came from the supporting cast, though: Cornhuskers Jordy Bahl fouled off the near-80-mph heater. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens, the flame-throwing right-hander catching national attention from the circle, has topped what seemed un-toppable. The Lady Vols star had a pitch clocked at 79.4 mph, which sets the record as the fastest in NCAA history. The record-setting moment happened during Game 2 of the Knoxville Super Regional against Nebraska. The previous record holder? Karlyn Pickens. She rewrote the record books this season against Arkansas, with a pitch clocked at 78.2 mph. Advertisement In baseball comparisons, both pitches would be over 100 mph. Perhaps the most impressive part of the dominance came from the supporting cast, though: Cornhuskers Jordy Bahl fouled off the near-80-mph heater. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws a pitch during an NCAA regional game between Tennessee and Miami (Ohio) at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium at University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, Tenn., May 16, 2025. Tennessee defeated Miami (Ohio) 17-0. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws a pitch during an NCAA regional game between Tennessee and Miami (Ohio) at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium at University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, Tenn., May 16, 2025. Tennessee defeated Miami (Ohio) 17-0. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) celebrates with Tennessee outfielder Taylor Pannell (3) after getting a strikeout during a NCAA regional game between Tennessee and Ohio State at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 17, 2025. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws the ball to Tennessee infielder McKenna Gibson (24) for an out during a NCAA regional game between Tennessee and Ohio State at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 17, 2025. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) celebrates a strikeout during a NCAA regional game between Tennessee and Ohio State at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 17, 2025. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) pitches during a NCAA regional game between Tennessee and Ohio State at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 17, 2025. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee outfielder Taylor Pannell (3) celebrates with Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) after a double play during a NCAA regional game between Tennessee and Ohio State at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 17, 2025. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23), Tennessee utility Ella Dodge (25) and Tennessee infielder McKenna Gibson (24) celebrate after defeating Ohio State during a NCAA regional game at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 18, 2025. Tennessee won 5-0 against Ohio State. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) celebrates after striking out a batter during a NCAA regional game between Tennessee and Ohio State at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 18, 2025. Tennessee won 5-0 against Ohio State. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) smiles after striking out a batter during a NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 23, 2025. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) pitches during a NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 23, 2025. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) celebrates the end of an inning during an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 24, 2025. Tennessee defeated Nebraska. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws a pitch during an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 24, 2025. Tennessee defeated Nebraska. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) pitches during a NCAA super regionals softball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Nebraska Cornhuskers at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 25, 2025. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws a pitch during an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 24, 2025. Tennessee defeated Nebraska. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens From left Tennessee catcher Sophia Nugent (7), Tennessee utility player Ella Dodge (25), Tennessee outfielder Taylor Pannell (3), and Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) celebrate after winning an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) celebrates the end of an inning during an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 24, 2025. Tennessee defeated Nebraska. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee utility player Ella Dodge (25) celebrates with Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) during an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 24, 2025. Tennessee defeated Nebraska. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) warms up during a Lady Vols softball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, Friday, March 10, 2023. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens University of Tennessee Vols Karlyn Pickens (23) winds up for a pitch during the Midstate Classic at Ridley Sports Complex in Columbia, Tenn. on Mar. 15, 2023. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) pitches during a SEC softball game between Tennessee and Florida at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Monday, April 24, 2023. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens (23) throws a pitch during a SEC softball game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, May 6, 2023. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Jun 5, 2023; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Tennessee Lady Vols pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws a pitch in the third inning against the Florida State Seminoles during the semifinal game at OGE Energy Field at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) smiles after a game against Carson-Newman at Sherri Parker Lee stadium on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws the ball in a game against Carson-Newman at Sherri Parker Lee stadium on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens (23) pitches during a NCAA softball game at the Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, March 15, 2024. The Lady Vols won 9-0 against Missouri. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens (23) pitches during a NCAA softball game at the Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, March 15, 2024. The Lady Vols won 9-0 against Missouri. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws a pitch during a Tennessee softball game between Tennessee and LSU, Saturday, April 20, 2024. LSU beat Tennessee 1-0. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) during a Tennessee softball game between Tennessee and LSU, Saturday, April 20, 2024. LSU beat Tennessee 1-0. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens May 9, 2024; Auburn, AL, USA; Tennessee starting pitcher/relief pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) against LSU during the quarterfinals of the SEC Softball Championship at Jane B. Moore Field. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) during a Tennessee softball game between Tennessee and Dayton in the NCAA Regional in Knoxville on Friday, May 17, 2024. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee Lady Vols starting pitcher/relief pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) during the game against the Dayton Flyers at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, TN on Friday, May 17, 2024. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) during an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Alabama at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, TN, Saturday, May 25, 2024. Alabama defeated Tennessee 3-2 in the 14th inning. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) pitches during an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Alabama at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, TN, Saturday, May 25, 2024. Alabama defeated Tennessee 3-2 in the 14th inning. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws a pitch during an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Alabama at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, TN, Sunday, May 26, 2024. Alabama defeated Tennessee 4-1. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws a pitch during an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Alabama at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, TN, Sunday, May 26, 2024. Alabama defeated Tennessee 4-1. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) puts her arms out after getting a strikeout to end the inning during a NCAA softball game between Tennessee and Duke at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) celebrates winning a NCAA softball game between Tennessee and Duke at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) celebrates after a strikeout during a NCAA softball game between Tennessee and Arkansas at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens (23) reaxts after one of her pitches was ruled a ball during an NCAA college softball game against Arkansas on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens (23) and teammates celebrate after Pickens struck out the final batter win the NCAA softball game against Arkansas on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens (23) pitches against Arkansas during an NCAA college softball game on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee's Charli Orsini (80) and Karlyn Pickens (23) celebrate as the Lady Vols take a 1-run lead against Arkansas during an NCAA college softball game on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens (23) pitches against Arkansas during an NCAA college softball game on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens, left, celebrates after an NCAA softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Friday, March 28, 2025. This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Tennessee Vols softball standout Karlyn Pickens in images
