Tennessee softball walks off Texas Tech in extra innings, advances to WCWS semifinals – Knoxville News Sentinel

OKLAHOMA CITY – Tennessee softball is back in the Women’s College World Series semifinals.
The Lady Volunteers (49-10) won 2-1 over No. 11 seed Texas Tech (58-8) in nine innings at Devon Park on May 30. It’s their third WCWS semifinals appearance in the last four seasons. Tennessee won on a walkoff home run by Emma Clarke to start the bottom of the ninth inning. It was her 14th of the season.
Their other run was scored by Taelyn Holley on a solo home run to leadoff the bottom of the fifth inning. The Lady Vols totaled five hits on the day and left five runners stranded on base over the course of the game.
Karlyn Pickens pitched 6⅔ scoreless innings before giving up a single, a walk and an intentional walk to load up the bases, allowing the Red Raiders to score the tying run on a sacrifice fly. The runner was initially called out, but Texas Tech challenged the call and the play was overturned.
Sage Mardjetko pitched the final 2⅓ innings, allowing and picked up her 16th win of the season. Kaitlyn Terry took the loss for Texas Tech.
Tennessee will play in the semifinals on June 1 (noon ET, ESPN). Their opponent will be whichever team wins the losers bracket game on May 31.
The game will go to extra innings after Tennessee failed to score or even put a runner on base in the bottom of the seventh inning. It’s the Lady Vols’ first extra innings game of the season.
The game is now tied in the seventh inning after Texas Tech scored on a sacrifice fly by Desirae Spearman. Taylor Pannell tagged up at third base and raced home for the score. The throw from centerfield by Sophia Night made it in time but catcher Elsa Morrison missed the tag. Pannell was initially called out before Texas Tech challenge the play to overturn the call. The score is 1-1.
Tennessee has finally broken the 0-0 tie against Texas Tech. Taelyn Holley led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a home run to left field on the second pitch of her at-bat. It’s her sixth of the season. Tennessee leads 1-0.
Tennessee stranded another runner in the fourth inning, failing to get Gabby Leach past first base. Alannah Leach reached on an error to leadoff the inning, but pinch runner Saviya Morgan was caught stealing second. The inning ended with Bella Faw popping up in foul territory to the catcher.
The broadcast of the game is back on ABC. It went down in the top of the second inning and came back at the end of the bottom of the third. Beth Mowins is the only broadcaster with a working microphone and there is only one working camera.
Tennessee loaded the bases with two outs thanks to another hit-by-pitch. Emma Clarke came up to hit and popped up to first base after working to a full count. Clarke accidentally ran into Texas Tech’s Jackie Lis who still made the catch while falling to the ground.
Texas Tech will make a pitching change with one out away in the bottom of the third. NiJaree Canady (26-6, 1.74 ERA) will enter in Kaitlyn Terry’s place. The inning began with a single by Bella Faw, followed by Taelyn Holley’s SAC bunt and Sophia Knight’s hit by pitch.
The broadcast of the game on ABC began experiencing technical difficulties in the top of the second inning. At the time of the issue, the score was still 0-0. A message on the screen reads “Currently Having Technical Difficulties.” The broadcast stated that the issue was caused by a power outage. The broadcast is still experiencing difficulties in the bottom of the fourth.
Texas Tech is still scoreless through three innings, thanks to a second consecutive 1-2-3 inning for pitcher Karlyn Pickens and Tennessee’s defense. Lagi Quiroga led off with a pop-up and then Logan Halleman and Mia Williams grounded out for the other two outs. The score is still 0-0.
Tennessee started the third inning with a nice defensive play. Lagi Quiroga popped the ball up in the infield. Tennessee second basewoman Emma Clarke took a few steps and dove to make the catch for the out.
Neither team scored in the first inning of the game. Karlyn Pickens struck out two batters in her first inning of work. Two of Tennessee’s players reached in the bottom half of the inning, but a nice catch by Mia Williams on lineout to second base ended the inning.
Right-handed pitcher Karlyn Pickens will start in the circle against Tennessee Tech. Pickens pitched three innings in the Lady Vols’ opening game against Texas on May 28. She allowed four hits and three runs with no walks and two strikeouts. Texas Tech’s starting pitcher will be Kaitlyn Terry (24-1, 1.67 ERA).
Pitcher: Karlyn Pickens (15-7, 1.60 ERA)
All times Eastern
Thursday, May 28
Friday, May 29
Saturday, May 30
Sunday, May 31
Monday, June 1
WCWS Finals
Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social‬. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

source