The Weekly Weekly: No. 1 Tennessee Softball Stays Perfect, Sweeps LSU in SEC Opener

Tennessee softball was back in action this week against a solid Belmont team in the midweek and a ranked SEC clash with LSU over the weekend. Despite Karlyn Pickens going down with an injury early against the Bruins on Tuesday, the top-ranked Lady Vols stayed undefeated and swept the Tigers in their SEC opener.

This was largely in thanks to the bat of Gabby Leach. She went 4-for-4 in a comeback win on Saturday, then lifted a walk-off home run on Sunday to clinch the sweep.

Here’s a rundown of the week of action for Karen Weekly’s team.

More From RTI: WATCH: Tennessee Softball Hammers Walk-Off Home Run to Sweep LSU, Stay Undefeated

March 3 – vs. Belmont

• Final Score: 1-0 W
• Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
• Pitching
  • Win: Erin Nuwer (9-0)
    • 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 7 K
  • Loss: May Johnson (8-1)
• Batting
  • Sophia Knight
    • 2/3, 1 R
  • Ella Dodge
    • 1/3, 1 RBI, 2B

March 6 – vs. LSU

• Final Score: 5-0 W
• Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
• Pitching
  • Win: Sage Mardjetko (5-0)
    • 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 6 K
  • Loss: Jayden Heavner (6-3)
• Batting
  • Sophia Knight
    • 2/4, 1 RBI
  • Maddie Rutan
    • 2/3
  • Makenzie Butt
    • 1/2, 1 R, 3 RBI, HR
  • Taelyn Holley
    • 1/2, 2 R, 1 RBI, HBP, HR

Feb. 7 – vs. LSU

• Final Score: 11-6 W
• Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
• Pitching
  • Win: Maddi Rutan (2-0)
    • 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
  • Loss: Cece Cellura (3-1)
  • Save: Erin Nuwer (2)
    • 3.1 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP
• Batting
  • Gabby Leach
    • 4/4, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR
  • Alannah Leach
    • 1/1, 1 R, 2 RBI, HR
  • Taelyn Holley
    • 1/2, 1 R, 1 RBI, HR

March 8– vs. LSU

• Final Score: 8-5 W
• Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
• Pitching
  • Win: Erin Nuwer (10-0)
    • 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB
  • Loss: Jayden Heaver (6-4)
• Batting
  • Gabby Leach
    • 2/3, 1 R, 3 RBI, HR, HBP
  • Ella Dodge
    • 1/3, 1 R, 1 RBI, BB, HR
  • Emma Clarke
    • 1/4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR

Remaining Schedule

SEC series in bold

• March 10 – at Austin Peay
• March 11 – at Lipscomb
• March 13 – at Mississippi State
• March 14 – at Mississippi State
• March 15 – at Mississippi State
• March 20 – at Florida
• March 21 – at Florida
• March 22 – at Florida
• March 24 – vs. Tennessee Tech
• March 27 – vs. Ole Miss
• March 28 – vs. Ole Miss
• March 29 – vs. Ole Miss
• April 2 – vs. South Carolina
• April 3 – vs. South Carolina
• April 4 – vs. South Carolina
• April 7 – vs. ETSU
• April 8 – vs. Kennesaw State
• April 11 – at Kentucky
• April 12 – at Kentucky
• April 13 – at Kentucky
• April 15 – at Duke
• April 21 – vs. Radford
• April 25 – vs Alabama
• April 26 – vs. Alabama
• April 27 – vs. Alabama
• April 30 – at Missouri
• May 1 – at Missouri
• May 2 – at Missouri
• May 5-9 – SEC Tournament

Follow More: Tennessee Sports Betting