Tennessee softball opened the 2024 Knoxville Regional with a 3-0 shutout victory over Dayton. Sophomore pitcher Karlyn Pickens was dominant, recording 12 strikeouts and holding Dayton to just two hits. Destiny Rodriguez drove in two runs in the second inning, while Sophia Nugent added another run in the fifth. Tennessee’s defense, led by Laura Mealer, made key plays to support Pickens’ stellar outing. Dayton’s Haven Dwyer and Izzy Kemp struggled on the mound, giving up three runs on four hits to Tennessee. The win improves Tennessee’s record to 41-10, with the team still undefeated this season when scoring three or more runs. Tennessee will face Virginia in the winner’s bracket game next, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s match. The loss drops Dayton to 33-20, with Nico Papavasiliou and Kaelene Walter accounting for the Flyers’ only hits in the game. Tennessee’s strong performance sets the team up well for the remainder of the regional tournament, with hopes of advancing to the next round.
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Photo credit utsports.com
Pickens shines in shutout victory over Dayton by Lady Vols
