On Monday night, Tennessee softball secured a massive series win. The No. 8 Lady Vols took down No. 3 Alabama 4-1 thanks to a three-run fourth inning and an additional insurance run in the fifth. Erin Nuwer and Karlyn Pickens were also fantastic in the circle, shutting down the Crimson Tide bats until one run crossed in the seventh.
This win gave Tennessee the 2-1 series win at home over its arch rival. The Lady Vols got hammered in game one on Saturday, 12-0 in five innings, before bouncing back on Sunday with a 2-0 win and Monday with the 4-1 victory.
Outside of the rivalry, this is a crucial series win for Tennessee. The Lady Vols are fighting to be a top-eight seed in the NCAA Tournament, which would allow them to host not just the regional round, but also the super regionals. With so much on the line, Tennessee celebrated the only way it knows how when it beats Alabama. The Lady Vols got cigars out and lit them up.
This is a bit of revenge, too. In 2024, Alabama beat Tennessee at home in the super regionals and lit cigars on the Lady Vols logo. Now, it’s UT lighting them up.
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Here’s a look at the Lady Vols celebration:
smoke ’em if you got ’em. pic.twitter.com/HqFzWsDzfC
— Tennessee Softball (@Vol_Softball) April 28, 2026
In 2024, Alabama defeated Tennessee at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium and celebrated by smoking cigars on the #LadyVols logo.
Two years later: Revenge! #SmokeEmIfYouGotEm
The players were worried about Karen Weekly’s reaction to smoking cigars… turns out, she was all for it ⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/H1J9WdTdUR
Advertisement— Sam Granville (@samgranvilletv) April 28, 2026
light it up! pic.twitter.com/eainvTQhqV
— Tennessee Softball (@Vol_Softball) April 28, 2026
Postgame cigar at center field, anyone? pic.twitter.com/vQBMm9tVFx
— Cora Hall (@corahalll) April 28, 2026
