Tennessee softball season ends with second WCWS semifinal loss vs Texas – Knoxville News Sentinel

OKLAHOMA CITY – Tennessee softball‘s season is over after losing twice to Texas in the Women’s College World Series semifinals.
The No. 7 seed Lady Vols dropped the second game 4-0 to the No. 2 seed Longhorns at Devon Park on June 1.
Texas had already beaten Tennessee 5-2 in the first game to force a Game 2. The Longhorns advance to the WCWS finals where they’ll face No. 1 seed Alabama or No. 11 seed Texas Tech starting June 3.
It’s the second year in a row Tennessee has been eliminated in the WCWS semifinals by Texas.
Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens pitched the full game, giving up four earned runs, seven hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
The Longhorns took the lead in the third inning, scoring three runs on five hits. One run was scored by Kayden Henry on a double steal. Texas added another run in the fifth on slugger Katie Stewart’s solo home run.
Tennessee’s offense had no answer for pitcher Teagan Kavan, who shut the Lady Vols out, holding them to two hits with 10 strikeouts while throwing a complete game.
Katie Stewart exited the game after a ball hit down the first-base line made contact with her face. The ball bounced off the orange safety bag and up into the side of Stewart’s chin before she could get her glove up to block it. Hannah Wells moved from designated player to first base for Stewart.
Katie Stewart hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend Texas’ lead. It’s her 30th home run of the season and second home run in the semifinals. She hit a solo home run in the fifth inning of the first game as well. Texas now leads 4-0.
Tennessee earned its first baserunner of the game in the to of the fourth inning thanks to a two-out single by Emma Clarke. However Alannah Leach struck out looking in the next at-bat to end the inning. Tennessee is now 2-for-16 with runners on in the semifinals.
Texas scores first in the second semifinal game against Tennessee. Jaycie Nichols scored first on Viviana Martinez’ RBI single. Then, Kayden Henry stole home on a double steal for the second run. Martinez scored from second on Reese Atwood’s RBI double. The Longhorns lead 3-0.
Karlyn Pickens is off to a good start against Texas. She struck out all three of the Longhorns’ batters in the top of the first to produce a 1-2-3 inning. The score is still 0-0 heading into the second inning.
Karlyn Pickens is entering the circle for Tennessee in a must-win game to keep the Lady Vols’ season alive. In between semifinal games, coach Karen Weekly spoke to ESPN reporter Holly Rowe and told her what her message to Pickens was before the game.
“Just be yourself. Go out there and smile. Have a bounce to your step. (Have) great eye contract (and) great energy with our infield. And just compete with joy,” Weekly said. “When Karlyn is in that space, she gives us a great chance to win.”
In between games, ESPN’s crew of analysts discussed the upcoming game between Tennesse and Texas. Former Lady Vol star shortstop Madison Shipman picked Texas to win the second game over Tennessee and advance to the WCWS finals.
Tennessee will go with Karlyn Pickens in the circle for the second game of the WCWS semifinals against Texas. Pickens pitched in the Lady Vols’ WCWS opener against Texas, allowing four hits and three runs in four innings. Teagan Kavan will start for Texas (26-6, 2.41 ERA).
Between games, Tennessee coach Karen Weekly spoke to Holly Rowe about what her team needs to do to get the win in Game 2 against Texas and advance to the WCWS finals.
“We just got to flush that,” Weekly said. “That was our one chance to go out there and not be ourselves. (Texas) played a great game, and we did not adjust well to their pitching. I said (to UT players), ‘Let it out. Whatever you regretted from that game, get it out.’ Different players said different things (in the locker room).
“So now the key is this game, and we leave the field with no regrets tonight. It doesn’t matter what the scoreboard says tonight, we’ll leave with no regrets.”
Pitcher: Karlyn Pickens (15-7, 1.58 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
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