On Wednesday night, Tennessee softball legend Karlyn Pickens officially began her professional career in the AUSL. As the Carolina Blaze’s No. 1 overall pick, the rookie got the start in the team’s second game of the year and dazzled.
During the Blaze’s 11-2 win over the Portland Cascade in just five innings (run-rule), Pickens pitched the entirety of the game. She finished with a line of 5.0 innings pitched, five allowed hits, five strikeouts, four left on base, one walk and two earned runs.
This now brings Pickens’ ERA to begin her career at a strong 2.80, especially considering the league is made up of the brightest former college stars the game has to offer. She also begins her pro career at 1-0 after earning the win.
karlyn k to end this thing ✨ pic.twitter.com/C7KgzJOuJS
— carolina blaze | ausl (@AUSL_Blaze) June 11, 2026
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There were other former Lady Vols playing, as well. On Pickens’ team, Aubrey Leach hit leadoff. She finished 0-for-3, but drew a walk and came around to score. Opposing Pickens was her former teammate Payton Gottshall. The pitcher came on in relief for the second-straight game for the Cascade and didn’t allow a run in one inning pitched.
“She is everything you would want in a young woman, in a human being, and I have to give so much credit to her parents and how they’ve raised her so incredibly loyal,” Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly said about Pickens after her senior year. “In this day and age when people jump ship and do it for the dollars, Karlyn had those opportunities, and Karlyn said, no, I’m a Lady Vol through and through. That meant so much to me and to everybody in our university.
“Karlyn will have a legacy forever at Tennessee, forever. Her name is synonymous with some of the greats who have come through Tennessee. All you have to say is Karlyn. Everybody knows what you’re talking about. Just like you say Peyton or Chamique or whatever, Candace, everybody knows who you’re talking about. The fact that Tennessee means so much to Karlyn and the Lady Vols softball program means so much to her is what really makes my heart happy.”
Pickens’ resume is absolutely stacked as she finishes her college tenure. Along with being the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s AUSL draft, here’s what she leaves campus with:
- 3x First Team All-American (2024, 2025, 2026)
- 2x SEC Pitcher of the Year (2024, 2025)
- 3x All-SEC First Team (2024, 2025, 2026)
- 1x All-SEC Second Team (2023)
- 1x SEC Freshman of the Year (2023)
- 3x WCWS Participant (2023, 2025, 2026)
- 4x NCAA Tournament Super Regional Participant (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
- 2x SEC Regular Season Champion (2023, 2024)
- 1x SEC Tournament Champion (2023)
