Tennessee softball has won the critical first game of the Women’s College World Series. The No. 7 Lady Vols took down No. 2 Texas 6-3 on Thursday in the two-loss elimination bracket.
This is critical because 90% of WCWS champions start 1-0 in the tournament. Here’s what happened in the big win.
Freshmen Come Up Huge at the Plate
It didn’t take long for Tennessee to strike first. In the second inning, Alannah Leach was hit by a pitch, and Makenzie Butt drew a walk to put two on and no out. This made way for freshman catcher and Knoxville native Elsa Morrison to lift a deep home run to center to put the Lady Vols up 3-0.
Besides the obvious momentum swing of a big home run to put your team up early, this put Tennessee in a fantastic position early in the game. Heading into the WCWS, the Lady Vols had won 63 straight games when leading by three or more runs.
Tennessee got an additional insurance run later in the game thanks to another freshman, as well. In the top of the fifth, nine-hole hitter Taelyn Holley singled up the middle to lead off the frame. She then advanced to second on a wild pitch, third on a groundout and scored on another wild pitch.
Then, in the sixth, it was Morrison, again, coming up big. With two outs, she doubled off the very top of the wall in right center to put a runner in scoring position. The next batter, Gabby Leach, singled on the infield, which allowed Zoie Shuler, the pinch-runner for Morrison, to score from second and provide another insurance run.
In the seventh, Holley put together a strong at-bat to draw a lead-off walk. She ended up coming all the way around to score thanks to a pair of bunts and a sac-fly.
Overall, Morrison finished 2-for-3 with a home run, double, three RBI and a run, and Holley finished 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs.
More From RTI: WATCH: Lady Vols Freshman, Knoxville Native Belts Three-Run Home Run in First Women’s College World Series At Bat
Sage Mardjetko Dazzles
Getting the ball to start was Sage Mardjetko. The First-Team All-American lived up to her billing in front of the extremely bright lights of the WCWS against the defending national champions, as well.
As planned, Mardjetko threw just a bit more than one time through the order before being relieved. She went four full innings while allowing just one hit (that stayed in the infield), no runs, two walks and struck out one batter.
While her strikeout number wasn’t high, she managed to consistently miss Texas barrels and force weak contact. She rarely ran into trouble, and when she did, it was seemingly effortless to work her way out of it and keep Tennessee’s lead intact.
Karlyn Pickens Runs Into Trouble
In the fifth inning, Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee’s other First-Team All-American, came in to relieve Sage Mardjetko. However, she quickly ran into some trouble.
Pickens allowed back-to-back singles, though the second was an unfortunate break on a swining bunt, to put two on with no outs. In the face of adversity, she again came through, though. Pickens forced a pop-up to the catcher and then a ground ball to short for a potential double play. However, Bella Faw’s throw to first was off-line, allowing an unearned run to score. That would be all that the Longhorns pushed across home in the inning, though.
Then, in the sixth, Pickens was tasked with the heart of Texas’ order. She looked strong through two batters, retiring both, but then allowed a single and a home run from Leighann Goode to cut the lead to just two runs.
Despite the shaky performance, Pickens remained in the game in the seventh to close things out. She rebounded well, though, forcing three straight ground balls to end the game. She finished with a line of three innings pitched, two earned runs, four allowed hits, two strikeouts and no walks.
Final Stats
Up Next
Now, Tennessee will now meet Texas Tech in the winner’s bracket. The game is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. ET and will air on ABC.
That means the Lady Vols will see a familiar face in the opposing dugout. After a controversial decision to transfer, Taylor Pannell quickly found her way to Lubbock to join the Red Raiders, sparking accusations of tampering by TTU.
The winner of that game will be just one win away from advancing to the WCWS finals.
