#3 Lady Vols Punch Ticket for 13th Super Regional – WGRV.com

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – With their third shutout of the Knoxville Regional, the third-seeded Lady Vols punched their ticket to the Super Regionals, defeating Virginia 6-0 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Tennessee (43-10) shutout Dayton and Virginia twice as it advanced to the program’s 13th appearance in Super Regionals. It is the first time since 2018 and 2019 that UT has reached supers in consecutive seasons.

Karlijn Pickens was out in the circle and threw a complete game to earn her 21st win of the year. The sophomore scattered two hits and allowed just one walk while striking out seven batters on the day.

Pickens’ dominant performance included taking a no-hitter in the fifth inning before Virginia finally broke through with a hit. The shutout victory is her 12th this season and 15th complete game.

Rylie West led the Lady Vols offensively, going 3-for-4 with a career-high tying five RBIs. The senior outfielder fell three short in the cycle as she led off the game with a single in the first, a double in the third and a solo home run in the fifth.

Zaida Puni also picked up a pair of hits and drove in a run in the third frame.

Tennessee posted lopsided numbers on the scoreboard in the first and third innings, which proved to be the difference as the Lady Vols continued to put the pressure on Virginia.

Kiki Milloy walked four and scored two runs in the first and third inning.

Eden Bigham – who pitched two shutouts for Virginia during the Knoxville Regional – got the start on Sunday. She pitched 2.1 innings and allowed five runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Madison Harris took over for Bigham in the third and closed the match with 4.2 frames. She scattered four hits with one run, two walks and three strikeouts.

WEEKEND STATISTICS
For the fourth time in program history, Tennessee did not allow a run at regionals, joining the 2005, 2007 and 2013 teams in accomplishing the feat.

Pickens and graduate pitcher Payton Gottshall combined for 24 strikeouts and just one walk over 19 innings of work. The duo allowed seven goals in three games.

NEXT ONE
Tennessee will host No. 14 seed Alabama in the Knoxville Super Regional this weekend. Game times and dates have yet to be announced by the NCAA.