KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Another dominating outing from junior pitcher Sage Mardjetko and some timely offensive power led the No. 8 Lady Vols to a 2-0 win over No. 3 Alabama Sunday afternoon at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. The win evened the series at a game apiece, setting up a rubber match on Monday.
Mardjetko was brilliant in the circle, stifling the Crimson Tide offense all afternoon. The junior right hander fanned six Alabama batters in the complete game shutout and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Mardjetko’s no-hit bid was broken up with one out in the seventh on a single up the middle by Audrey Vandagriff. The win moves her to 11-1 on the season and drops her ERA to 0.93.
The shutout is UT’s 18th of the season and Mardjetko’s fifth. It also is the first time Alabama has been shutout in 2026.
Tennessee (39-8, 13-7 SEC) got some clutch power from its offense from Gabby Leach and Emma Clarke to get on the scoreboard. Leach’s long ball came to lead off the fifth to break the deadlock. The Woodlands, Texas native launched a 2-2 pitch over the center field fence to give Tennessee a one-run advantage. The blast was her third leadoff homer of the season.
One inning later, Clarke doubled the lead with her own solo home run. The sophomore smacked one off the scoreboard in left center, giving the Big Orange some insurance heading into the seventh. The homers for both Leach and Clarke were their tenth of the campaign.
Alabama (44-5, 16-4) could only muster five base runners in the contest in the losing effort. Vic Moten got the start for the Crimson Tide on Sunday, going six innings while allowing four hits and both Tennessee home runs. Moten took the loss and moves to 16-4 in 2026.
DUE UP
The win for Tennessee sets up an important series finale on Monday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m., with the game televised nationally on SEC Network+.
