SCORE: Virginia 5, Tennessee 7 | FINAL
***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***
Tennessee softball, the No. 7 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, got off to a strong start in the Knoxville Regional. On Friday, the Lady Vols downed Northern Kentucky 3-1 to stay on the winner’s side of the two-loss elimination bracket. This came behind a dominant pitching performance from Erin Nuwer and a pair of solo shots from Emma Clarke and Elsa Morrison.
“It’s a win, and in the postseason, that’s all that matters,” UT head coach Karen Weekly said after the game. “Survive and advance, and we’re just super grateful to be playing this time of year, that we get to be together, that we get to be at home, where I mean, the stadium is absolutely beautiful, the field’s beautiful, everybody here puts so much time and effort and energy into putting on a great tournament, and it’s just super proud to be a Tennessee Volunteer when you see that out there tonight.”
Now, Tennessee will meet Virginia on Saturday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.
The Hoos earned their spot in the game by beating Indiana on Friday night. In eight innings, Virginia used a walk-off single off the bat of Reagan Hickey to win 8-7.
The winner between Tennessee and UVA will move to the Knoxville Regional Finals, where they’ll have two shots to win one game against the same team on Sunday. The loser will play later today in an elimination game against the winner between the Hoosiers and Norse.
More From RTI: Everything Tennessee Softball HC Karen Weekly Said After Beating NKU in Knoxville Regional
Opponent Scout – Virginia
- 2026 record
- 38-13 (13-10 ACC)
- 2026 conference tournament result
- Quarterfinals loss
- 2025 NCAAT result
- Regionals loss
- 2026 BAVG leader
- Macee Eaton – .443
- 2026 HR leader
- Bella Cabral – 13
- 2026 ERA leader
- Courtney Layne – 2.31
SERIES HISTORY:
- Overall: UT leads 13-2
- Last meeting: May 19, 2024: 6-0 UT W in 2024 Knoxville Regional
Lineups and pitching matchups are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
CF Sophia Knight (L)
LF Alannah Leach (L)
C Elsa Morrison (R)
3B Ella Dodge (L)
2B Emma Clarke (R)
RF Gabby Leach (L)
1B Makenzie Butt (R)
DP Taelyn Holley (L)
SS Bella Faw (R)
VIRGINIA STARTING NINE:
SS Jade Hylton (R)
1B Macee Eaton (R)
3B Bella Cabral (R)
C Reagan Hickey (R)
DP Hannah Weismer (R)
2B Alex Call (R)
CF Kassidy Hudson (L)
RF Madison Greene (R)
LF Jaiden Griffith (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Tennessee – Sage Mardjetko (12-2, 0.96 ERA)
vs.
Virginia – Eden Bigham (14-4, 3.44 ERA)
Uniforms
Tennessee: White uniforms, Summitt Blue pinstripes
Virginia: Dark gray
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Jade Hylton strikes out swinging
-Macee Eaton grounds out to first
-Bella Cabral flies out to left field
END HALF INNING
B1
-Sophia Knight reaches on a throwing error from the shortstop
- Called out initially. Karen Weekly had to get the umpires together to discuss, and they ultimately changed the call.
-Alannah Leach singles to right, Knight to second
-Elsa Morrison doubles to right-center, Knight scores, A. Leach scores
- A. Leach called out on the field. Call overturned after review.
-Ella Dodge grounds out to first, Morrison to third
-Emma Clarke walks
-Gabby Leach hit by pitch
-Makenzie Butt singles to right, Morrison scores, Clarke to third, G. Leach to second
-Taelyn Holley walks, Clarke scores, G. Leach to third, Butt to second
*Taylor Smith in to pitch for Bigham
-Bella Faw grounds into fielder’s choice to shortstop, G. Leach scores, Butt to third, Holley out at second
- Virginia challenges call of safe at first, call is confirmed
-Sophia Knight grounds out to third
END INNING
Score: Virginia 0, Tennessee 5
2nd Inning:
T2
-Reagan Hickey strikes out swinging
-Hannah Weismer grounds out to third
-Alex Call strikes out looking
END HALF INNING
B2
-Alannah Leach strikes out swinging
-Elsa Morrison flies out to right
-Ella Dodge flies out to center
END INNING
Score: Virginia 0, Tennessee 5
3rd Inning:
T3
-Kassidy Hudson hit by pitch
-Madison Greene strikes out swinging
-Jaiden Griffith single to right, Hudson to second
-Jade Hylton strikes out looking
-Macee Eaton homers to right, Hudson scores, Griffith scores
-Bella Cabral grounds out to short
END HALF INNING
B3
-Emma Clarke homers to left
-Gabby Leach pops out to second
-Makenzie Butt lines out to second
-Taelyn Holley grounds out to second
END INNING
Score: Virginia 3, Tennessee 6
4th Inning:
T4
-Reagan Hickey strikes out looking
-Hannah Weismer grounds out to third
-Alex Call singles to center
-Kassidy Hudson grounds out to second
END HALF INNING
B4
-Bella Faw flies out to left
-Sophia Knight grounds out to short
-Alannah Leach strikes out looking
END INNING
Score: Virginia 3, Tennessee 6
5th Inning:
T5
*Karlyn Pickens in to pitch for Mardjetko
-Madison Green flies out to center
-Jaiden Griffith strikes out swinging
-Jade Hylton singles to right
-Macee eaton grounds out to short
END HALF INNING
B5
-Elsa Morrison pops out to shortstop
-Ella Dodge strikes out swinging
-Emma Clarke singles up the middle
-Gabby Leach singles to center, Clarke to third
G. Leach attempts to steal second to get in a rundown, Clarke can’t cross home before G. Leach is tagged out
END INNING
Score: Virginia 3, Tennessee 6
6th Inning:
T6
-Bella Cabral grounds out to second
-Reagan Hickey strikes out swinging
-Hannah Weismer walks
-Alex Call homers to center, Weismer scores
-Kassidy Hudson strikes out swinging
END HALF INNING
B6
-Makenzie Butt homers to left
-Taelyn Holley grounds out to the pitcher
*Meredith Barnhart pinch hits for Bella Faw
-Meredith Barnhart strikes out swinging
-Sophia Knight singles to center, called out for illegally batted ball
END INNING
Score: Virginia 5, Tennessee 7
7th Inning:
T7
-Madison Greene pops out to catcher
-Jaiden Griffith grounds out to third
-Jade Hylton strikes out swinging
END HALF INNING
Score: Virginia 5, Tennessee 7
FINAL SCORE: VIRGINIA 5, TENNESSEE 7
