Latest news with #SECPitcheroftheYear
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Vols ace Liam Doyle breaks single-season strikeout record
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee pitcher Liam Doyle helped the Volunteers reach an NCAA Super Regional for the fifth consecutive season on Monday and wrote his name into the program history book in the process. The junior ace entered the decisive last game of the Knoxville Regional against Wake Forest in the seventh inning, recording five strikeouts over the final 2.1 innings to secure an 11-5 win and send Tennessee to a Super Regional showdown against Arkansas. Lady Vols' season ends in Women's College World Series semifinals to Texas Doyle now has struck out 158 batters in 2025. He now holds the program record for most strikeouts in a single-season, eclipsing Luke Hochevar's record of 154 set back in 2005. It marks another accolade in an impressive season for the Derry, New Hampshire native. He became the third player in school history be named SEC Pitcher of the Year and is one of 16 semifinalists for the College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Award. CONTINUING COVERAGE; University of Tennessee Baseball With the Razorbacks holding the No. 3 national seed, Tennessee will hit the road for the Fayetteville Super Regional as they seek a third consecutive appearance in the College World Series. It would be Tennessee's eighth trip to Omaha in program history and the fourth under head coach Tony Vitello. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lady Vols defeat UCLA softball, advance to Women's College World Series semifinals
Lady Vols defeat UCLA softball, advance to Women's College World Series semifinals No. 7 national seed Tennessee (47-16) defeated No. 9 national seed UCLA (55-13), 5-4 in nine innings, during the 2025 Women's College World Series on Sunday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Laura Mealer helped the Lady Vols advance to the semifinals with a walk-off single in the ninth inning after the Bruins tied the game in the seventh inning with a two-run home run by Meagan Grant. Mealer went 2-for-5 and recorded three RBIs, while Taylor Pannell went 3-for-4. She hit a two-run home run, recorded three RBIs and scored three runs. The Lady Vols led, 2-0, in the first inning after Mealer hit a two-run single with two outs. The Bruins tied the game in the second inning after Alexis Ramirez and Sophia Mojica each hit solo home runs. Gabby Leach went 2-for-5, scoring one run. Ella Dodge went 1-for-4 and scored one run for the Lady Vols. Karlyn Pickens (25-10), a two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, pitched nine innings for Tennessee. She allowed four runs, 11 hits and four walks. Pickens recorded seven strikeouts, while totaling 148 pitches, including 91 strikes. Tennessee will next play against Texas on Monday with first pitch slated for noon EDT. The Lady Vols won two of three games during a regular-season SEC series in Austin, Texas.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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 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
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens breaks her own record for fastest softball pitch ever thrown
College softball's fastest flamethrower just got faster. Tennessee softball ace Karlyn Pickens had already thrown the fastest pitch ever recorded at 78.2 mph. But in the first inning of the super regional against Nebraska on May 24, she beat her own record. Advertisement Pickens threw 79.4 mph during Nebraska pitcher Jordy Bahl's first at-bat of Game 2. Pickens tied the previous record of 77 mph by Tennessee legend Monica Abbott earlier in the season twice before she broke it against Arkansas on March 24. Abbott originally set the record during a National Pro Fastpitch game in 2012. The Weaverville, North Carolina, native is known for her velocity as one of the few pitchers to consistently throw in the mid 70s and higher. Tennessee was tied 2-2 with Nebraska after the first inning. The No. 7 seed Lady Vols (43-15) lost Game 1 to the Huskers 5-2, and they would need to win Game 2 to extend their season and force a rubber match on May 25. Pickens had already thrown five strikeouts in the first two innings of Game 2. Advertisement Pickens won her second straight SEC Pitcher of the Year award this season after leading the conference in ERA and strikeouts. She currently has a 0.99 ERA and 259 strikeouts on the season. Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women's athletics. Email her at 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: Tennessee softball: Karlyn Pickens sets fastest pitch record again
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fastest softball pitches in history – from Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens to Monica Abbott
Tennessee Lady Vols have thrown the four fastest pitches in softball history, led by current ace Karlyn Pickens. The previous record held by former UT star Monica Abbott stood for 13 years. Then Pickens tied or broke the mark three times during the 2025 season. And it could fall again as Pickens, the two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, leads the Lady Vols into the Women's College World Series. Advertisement No. 7 seed Tennessee (45-15) faces No. 2 seed Oklahoma (50-7) to open the WCWS on May 29 (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Oklahoma City. And Pickens has a lively and loose arm to take another run at the record. Here are the fastest softball pitches ever recorded: Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Fastest softball pitches in history, Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens to Monica Abbott
