In 2026, Tennessee softball boasted an elite trio of pitchers, Karlyn Pickens, Sage Mardjetko and Erin Nuwer. After the regular season, both Pickens and Mardjetko were tabbed first-team All-Americans for their year. While Pickens is out of eligibility and turned pro, Mardjetko enters her senior season.
With the transfer portal open, there’s no need to worry about Mardjetko bouncing, though. Instead, she affirmed that she will play with the Lady Vols for her senior year in 2027 on her Instagram.
This will be her third and final year with Tennessee. Mardjetko started her career with South Carolina before transferring to UT as a sophomore in 2025.
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This past season was by far Mardjetko’s best at the college level. In 31 appearances and 21 starts, she posted a 1.26 ERA and a 16-3 record. Over the course of 127.2 innings, she struck out 171 batters and opponents only hit .150 off of her.
Now, Mardjetko projects to be at the top of another deep pitching staff for the Lady Vols. With the projected return of Erin Nuwer for her junior year, as well, it gives Tennessee and Karen Weekly two proven options at the top of the room.
While most top teams have at least two stars in the circle, Weekly likes to have three. Currently, she’ll have two young options for that third spot if she chooses. Peyton Hardenburger will be a sophomore next year after posting a 0.67 ERA in limited action as a freshman. Maggie Krause also joins as a freshman.
Tennessee could also add a pitcher through the transfer portal if it chooses. The Lady Vols are yet to land a transfer, but have lost starting infielder Ella Dodge, backup outfielder Saviya Morgan and freshman pitcher Kailey Plumlee (who committed to Alabama), so far.
