It’s getting increasingly common to see a metal bat break in a baseball or softball game with the velocity pitchers are reaching and the speed at which batters are swinging, but it’s still pretty rare. Still, former Tennessee softball star pitcher Karlyn Pickens is destroying bats in the AUSL.
Over her past two starts, Pickens has broken a metal bat in each. The first was on a bunt attempt that snapped the bat in half. The next was on a swing on a low and away pitch that snapped the bat at the handle.
The official MLB account on X posted the video of the bats breaking and noted that Pickens entered Saturday tied with Montana Fouts for the single-season strikeout record in the AUSL at 53. Pickens is pitching on Saturday, as well, though, and will up the number.
Karlyn Pickens broke TWO metal bats over her last two starts 😳
She is currently tied with Montana Fouts for @theAUSLofficial single-season strikeout record with 53 Ks! pic.twitter.com/FhmftTo2Na
— MLB (@MLB) July 17, 2026
More From RTI: Tennessee Softball Releases New Summitt Blue Uniforms With Adidas
Throughout Pickens’ Tennessee career, she made the Women’s College World Series three times in four years. She was a three-time First-Team All-American, two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year and earned almost countless additional honors and the record for fastest-ever pitch.
“My four years here have been nothing but just amazing,” Pickens said after her final game in the WCWS. “I’ve enjoyed my experience so much. I’ve been a part of four amazing groups of girls, and I think that’s kind of the hardest part of walking away from it is just the bonds we have with this team and teams of the past and stuff like that. I’m thankful to have been able to be a part of this program, to be able to put on this uniform and fight for the Lady Vols and my team.”
Pickens would go first overall in the second AUSL draft to the Carolina Blaze. The team is currently 8-14 and on an eight-game losing streak. This leaves the team seven games back from first in the standings with three games left.
