24-05-2025
Lady Vols face elimination after Super Regional loss to Nebraska
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Lady Vols face elimination after dropping the opening game of the Super Regional against Nebraska on Friday by a score of 5-2.
Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens got the start but was replaced Sage Mardjetko after allowing 5 runs in 3.2 innings. National Player of the Year finalist Jordy Bahl pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits to secure the win for the Cornhuskers.
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Bahl is also Nebraska's leadoff hitter, and led things off in the first with a single. After a pop-up and strikeout from Pickens, Nebraska took the lead with two outs. Olivia DiNardo hit a single up the middle to bring home Bahl for the 1-0 lead.
Bahl also started in the circle for the Huskers, and pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first to keep Tennessee off the board. Pickens responded with a three up, three down inning of her own with two strikeouts.
Tennessee evened things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Sophia Nugent mashed a solo home run over the center field wall off of her former teammate at Oklahoma. It marked the catcher's third homer of the NCAA tournament.
However, the Huskers regained the lead in the third. Bahl reached base again, this time on a walk and then ran home on a Samantha Bland RBI double. Pickens picked up her sixth strikeout of the day to strand Bland at second to keep it a one-run game.
Nebraska extended its lead to 3-1 on a Hannah Camenzind solo homer in the bottom of the fourth.
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Things then went from bad to worse. Pickens hit Bella Bacon, and then walked Lauren Camenzind to put two runners on. Bahl hit one to short, but a miscommunication between Saviya Morgan and Laura Mealer led to the ball dropping and two Nebraska runs scoring.
That ended Pickens' day as Mardjetko replaced her in the circle. Nebraska loaded the bases but Mardjetko forced a pop out to end the threat.
Bahl continued her strong day in the circle as she pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth.
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Tennessee cut into Nebraska's lead in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back singles from Gabby Leach and Ella Dodge put runners on the corners. The Lady Vols scored a run on a wild pitch, but a groundout ended the inning to keep it 5-2.
Mardjetko was dominant in the circle the rest of the way, not allowing a run or a hit in the final 3.1 innings. The Lady Vols ended the game with two more hits than the Cornhuskers.
UP NEXT: Tennessee faces Nebraska in the second game of the Super Regionals Saturday night at 5 p.m.
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