Tennessee softball is on to the 2026 Women’s College World Series semifinals for the second-straight season. Thanks to an Emma Clarke walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth, the Lady Vols downed Texas Tech 2-1 to stay perfect in NCAA Tournament play.
Here’s what you need to know.
Another Huge Swing from a Freshman Opens the Scoring
In the opening win of the WCWS against Texas, it was freshmen getting the job done at the plate. Along with a three-run shot from Elsa Morrison, Taelyn Holley continuously got on base to start rallies and come around to score.
Against Texas Tech, it was Holley with the huge swing. To lead off the bottom of the fifth, Holley took a pitch the other way and left the yard for a home run to opposite field. While it was just a solo shot, it broke the ice in what was previously a pitcher’s duel.
Holley finished the game 1-for-2 with the solo shot and a sac-bunt that moved a runner into scoring position.
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Tennessee Survives Sixth-Inning Push From Texas Tech
Things got hairy in a hurry in the sixth inning. After a strikeout to open the frame, Texas Tech turned back to the top of the order. There, Mia Williams made Tennessee pay with a ripped double to left-center. In the next at-bat, Mihyia Davis singled up the middle and Williams was waved around third.
However, the defense picked up Karlyn Pickens. Sophia Knight delivered a dart from center field that was received by Elsa Morrison, who applied the tag just before Williams reached home. The call was reviewed and ultimately confirmed as UT recorded the second out of the inning.
The Red Raiders weren’t going to go down without more of a fight, though. Instead, Jackie Lis drew a walk and Jasmyn Burns worked a full count with two runners on. Pickens forced a pop-up, though, to retire the side and keep the lead intact despite the scare.
Lady Vols Ride With Karlyn Pickens, Texas Tech Takes Advantage
Tennessee entered the seventh inning three outs away from winning. After avoiding disaster in the sixth with the throwout at home, Karen Weekly decided to ride with Karlyn Pickens in the circle.
However, in the first at-bat of the inning, former Lady Vol Taylor Pannell singled to center. Kaitlyn Terry then drew a walk before her and Pannell stole bases and forced Tennessee to intentionally walk the next batter.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Pickens dealt a strikeout. Then, she allowed a ball to be lifted to center for a flyout. Pannell was sent home and was ruled out on the field, but the tag wasn’t made and it tied the game after review.
After that, Tennessee finally made the call to the bullpen to bring in its other First-Team All-American pitcher, Sage Mardjetko, with Mia Williams and the top of the Red Raiders’ order due up. She used a diving catch in left by Alannah Leach to get out of the jam and keep the game tied.
Emma Clarke Calls Game
Tennessee got a huge swing from Emma Clarke to help win its Knoxville Regional a few weeks ago, and she topped it on Saturday. To lead off the bottom of the ninth, Clarke hammered a solo shot to center to win the game.
This was her only hit of the day after she started the game 0-for-3. She had put a ball in play on each previous at-bat, though.
CLARKE CALLED GAME
LADY VOLS WIN pic.twitter.com/RGc5jWXwVo
— Tennessee Softball (@Vol_Softball) May 30, 2026
Final Stats
Up Next
With the 2-0 start, Tennessee is fully in the driver’s seat in its push to make the WCWS finals. The Lady Vols will need to win one more game, with two chances to do so against the same team.
That first game will be played on Monday at noon ET on ESPN. UT will have to wait to find out its opponent, though. The loser between Alabama and Nebraska will play Texas for the spot in the bracket.
This does confirm Tennessee as one of the final four teams standing in the bracket for the second-straight season.
