KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 7 Tennessee split its Saturday doubleheader but secured a series victory over No. 17 Mississippi State, dominating in Game 3 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Mississippi State (31-10, 7-5 SEC) took Game 1 of the twin bill with a strong 12-4 performance, forcing a rubber match in the series finale. Tennessee (32-8, 7-5 SEC) bounced back in the second game, delivering an impressive all-around effort to claim their 18th run-rule victory of the season in an 8-0 win over the Bulldogs.
McKenna Gibson, Taylor Pannell, and Saviya Morgan all posted three hits across the two games. Gibson added a walk, four RBIs, and hit two home runs, bringing her season total to nine. Morgan contributed with two runs scored, while Pannell hit her 13th home run of the season and crossed the plate three times. Gabby Leach also shined in the second game, going 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBIs, and a walk-off home run.
Karlyn Pickens continued to prove why she is one of the most valuable players in the country as she fired a one-hit five-inning complete-game shutout in the series finale. The right-hander walked one and notched four strikeouts en route to her 15th victory of the season.
For the weekend, Pickens tossed two complete-game shutouts, allowing just five hits and one walk with 10 strikeouts across 10 innings of work.
Game 1: #7 Tennessee 4, #17 Mississippi State 12 (6 innings)
Mississippi State took control early, scoring eight runs in the first inning, fueled by back-to-back home runs. The Bulldogs added to their lead with a bloop RBI single followed by a two-run single. A groundout and a bases-loaded walk scored two more before a sac fly drove in MSU’s final run of the opening frame.
Tennessee got a run back off an RBI single from Sophia Nugent, cutting Mississippi State’s lead to 8-1.
The Bulldogs extended their lead in the third with a two-run double, pushing the score to 10-1. McKenna Gibson’s two-run homer in the bottom of the third pulled Tennessee closer at 10-4, but Mississippi State answered with back-to-back solo homers in the sixth, extending their lead to 12-4.
Erin Nuwer (5-2) started for Tennessee, giving up four runs on three hits and a walk in just four batters faced. Sage Mardjetko followed out of the bullpen, surrendering four runs in 0.1 innings. Peyton Tanner pitched 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Game 2: #7 Tennessee 8, #17 Mississippi State 0 (5 innings)
Tennessee came out swinging in Game 2, scoring early in the second inning. After Gabby Leach was hit by a pitch, Saviya Morgan singled up the middle of the infield, followed by a center-field single from Kinsey Fiedler, which brought Leach home for the game’s first run.
Taylor Pannell then launched a three-run homer to left, extending the Lady Vols’ advantage to 4-0. McKenna Gibson added to the lead with her third home run in as many games, making it 5-0.
The Lady Vols kept the pressure on in the third. Laura Mealer led off with a double, and after a walk and a stolen base by Ella Dodge put two runners in scoring position, Leach laid down a bunt single to drive in Mealer. A fielding error on the play allowed Dodge to come around and score for a 7-0 lead.
Leach sealed the game in the fifth inning with a walk-off solo home run, earning Tennessee its 18th run-rule victory of the season.
DUE UP
Tennessee will travel to Austin, Texas, for a three-game series against the No. 1 Longhorns. The series begins Friday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU, followed by Game 2 on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN. The finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. on SECN+.
