OXFORD, Miss. – No. 1/4 Tennessee secured its sixth SEC series victory of the season with a 7-1 win over No. 16 Ole Miss on Sunday at Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
The Lady Vols (39-11, 14-7 SEC) have now claimed 22 of their last 24 conference series, a dominant stretch that dates to the end of the 2022 season.
Ole Miss (34-14, 10-11) jumped out to a quick lead with a run in the first inning after a leadoff walk and an RBI double. Tennessee starter Sage Mardjetko worked out of further trouble, limiting the Rebels to just the one run.
Tennessee took control in the third when Taylor Pannell launched a three-run home run—her 15th of the season—after a pair of walks set the table. The redshirt sophomore extended her reached-base streak to a career-high 21 games.
The Lady Vols added insurance in the fifth with another three-run frame. McKenna Gibson and Sophia Nugent opened the inning with back-to-back singles, and a sacrifice bunt moved pinch runners Katie Taylor and Zoie Shuler into scoring position. Saviya Morgan drove in Taylor with an RBI single to right, and a double steal brought home Shuler to make it 5-1. Laura Mealer followed with a run-scoring single to center, plating Morgan.
Tennessee tacked on one more in the seventh when Emma Clarke drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the Lady Vols’ seventh run.
IN THE CIRCLE
Mardjetko tossed three innings in the start, allowing one run on one hit and three walks while striking out three. Erin Nuwer and Peyton Tanner provided middle relief, with Tanner working out of a two-on, one-out jam in the fourth.
Karlyn Pickens sealed the win with 2.1 scoreless innings in relief, striking out four and allowing just two hits. She improved to 20-6 on the year.
CHECK THE STATS
Pannell extended her reached base streak to a career-high 21 games on Sunday. She surpassed her previous career-best of 20 games set earlier this season.
With Sunday’s win, Tennessee improved to 10-1 in SEC rubber matches since the beginning of the 2023 season.
DUE UP
The Lady Vols will wrap up the regular season next weekend with a Thursday through Saturday series at home against Texas A&M. Tennessee will honor its five seniors before Game 3 on Saturday.
