Tennessee softball claimed game one of the Knoxville Super Regional on Thursday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. The Lady Vols downed Georgia 3-1 behind a dominant performance in the circle by Karlyn Pickens and a trio of solo home runs.
After the game, Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly met with the media to field questions. She was asked about Pickens’ outing, the home runs and more.
Here’s what she said.
More From RTI: WATCH: Tennessee Softball, Karlyn Pickens React to Game One Super Regional Win Over Georgia
Opening statement
“What a great game. Just an incredible atmosphere. I think the fans were getting after each other from the first inning on. Just really proud of our team for the fight, the grit tonight. Karlyn just pitched a phenomenal game, and we were just kind of joking on the way over here that she’s so good under pressure sometimes, I wonder if she creates it so that she can rise to that occasion because she sure does.
“But a lot of respect for Georgia. I mean, just like we talked in our circle, that’s postseason softball, and the further you go, just the more exciting it is. And that’s a heck of a team across the field from us. Tomorrow is going to be another battle just like today. We just need to reset, flush today and get ready for a great game tomorrow.”
On the composure of pitcher Karlyn Pickens
“I’ve never coached an athlete like her. Just unbelievable the way she always wants the ball, wants the responsibility. You know, our team watches Hoosiers. Every freshman and newcomer when they come in, we show them Hoosiers because there’s so many lessons in there. And honestly, that’s where some of the things we say in our program come from. And one of those things is when they compliment each other or we give them a compliment, the response is JC, and it stands for Jimmy Chitwood. And the reason that we queue in on that is not because he made it, but because he wanted it. He wanted the responsibility of the ball in his hand with the game on the line. And that’s the way Karlyn is. She wants that responsibility, and she’s going to own it. And you couldn’t ask for more from somebody in the circle.”
On Sophia Knight, Emma Clarke homering in the first inning
“It was absolutely huge. I mean, Sophia just what what a tone set setter for the game right there. I’m not going to sit here and tell you, yeah, I thought Soph was going to hit a home run. I’ve been asked that a couple times already, but I had a feeling something good was going to happen. She’s just such a talented player with so many tools in her box and tonight she used one that maybe we’ve underutilized this year because she’s really really good at swinging the bat and for her first home run at Tennessee to be an oppo ball against Georgia and in supers that’s pretty special and it was a big lift for our team.”
On her team doing gritty things to win in the postseason
“You practice and you play all year to develop that grit muscle and you put yourself in a lot of situations. You have a lot of adversity. I think the more adversity you have during the season, the better because that’s the only way you test your composure under pressure is if you’re put in those situations. So, I’ve been really proud of them watching them grow through it.
“And then just to see them grind it out today. I mean, there was nothing about today that was easy, but to see them just be so invested and locked in every pitch, it was like every pitch was a game of its own, and that’s the way they played the game.”
On the team’s defense
“Boy, that little chopper on the line that (Ella Dodge) came through and scooped up and threw on the run. That was an absolute jam. Like most people don’t make that play. I’ve been really pleased with the way they responded to the shift that we did in the infield. And you know, it started with the players saying, ‘Heck yeah, let’s go.’ And getting out there and I can’t count how many extra ground balls that group took from the first practice after the SEC tournament to now. I mean, they’ve just gotten after it, and they play with so much energy.
“That’s the cool thing watching that infield out there. There’s so much eye contact, there’s so much great body language, there’s so much leaning on each other that I think they feel like they can make every play. And that’s what you want them to feel like.”
