KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Sophomore Karlyn Pickens tossed her fourth complete-game shutout Monday afternoon as the ninth-ranked Lady Vols defeated Longwood 7-0 to close out the 2024 Tennessee Classic at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Pickens – who carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning – struck out 10 and walked a pair as she held the Lancers to one hit. Monday’s game marked her third outing with double-digit strikeouts. The right-hander is now 7-2 on the year with the victory.
Junior Laura Mealer had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a run scored, two RBIs and a double. In the bottom of the fifth, the Chapel Hill, Tennessee, native hit her first home run as a Lady Vol – a two-run shot to right that put UT up 6-0.
Mealer’s home run was one of four hit by Tennessee on the day as Zaida Puni, Rylie West and Kiki Milloy all joined in on leaving the yard.
Already leading 2-0 in the third, Puni hit a line drive off the scoreboard to extend the Lady Vols’ lead to three.
West and Milloy hit their solo blasts in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively, with Mealer’s two-run home run sandwiched between them.
Milloy finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and added one stolen base. The graduate has 13 stolen bases this season and is 14 away from becoming Tennessee’s all-time stolen bases leader.
West also went 2-for-4 at the dish on Monday with two runs, two RBIs and a stolen base. Puni was 2-for-3, scoring one run and driving in two while drawing a walk.
Longwood’s Maggie Chapin got the start in the circle and went the distance for the Lancers. She tossed six innings and surrendered seven runs on nine hits.
Lauren Taylor picked up Longwood’s only hit of the day – a fifth-inning leadoff single.
UP NEXT
Tennessee is back in action on Tuesday, March 5 as it travels to play at No. 11 Clemson. Originally scheduled for a 6 p.m. start – the game has been moved up to 2 p.m. to avoid expected inclement weather.
Tuesday’s game can be streamed on ACCNX (ACC Network Extra) or through the WatchESPN app. Fans can also listen to Voice of the Lady Vols Brian Rice call the game via a free audio broadcast on UTSports.com or through the Tennessee Gameday App.
