KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The seventh-ranked Lady Vols closed out their SEC series against No. 14 Arkansas with a 3-2 victory at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on Monday night.
 
Down 2-0 after the top of the first inning, Tennessee (27-6, 3-3 SEC) quickly responded in the bottom of the first as Sophia Nugent put the Lady Vols on the board with a sacrifice fly. Laura Mealer followed with a two-RBI double to give Tennessee a 3-2 lead.
 
That would be all the offense either team would muster, as the game turned into a pitchers’ duel. After Arkansas’ (23-7, 3-6 SEC) Ella McDowell’s second-inning leadoff single, neither team would record another hit for the rest of the night.
 
The Razorbacks opened the scoring with a two-out-two-run home run from Bri Ellis.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
Tennessee’s pitchers dominated the final six innings. Starter Sage Mardjetko went 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three.
 
Junior Karlyn Pickens came on with two out in the third and shut down Arkansas with 4.1 scoreless, hitless innings, striking out six to earn her 11th win of the season in her 17th appearance.
 
HISTORY MADE
In the sixth inning, Pickens made history by throwing the fastest pitch in softball history at 78 mph, surpassing the previous record of 77 mph. The previous mark had been set by Tennessee legend Monica Abbott in 2012 as a professional with the Chicago Bandits and was matched by Pickens earlier this season.
 
DUE UP
The Lady Vols will travel to Norman, Oklahoma, to face the Sooners in their first matchup since Oklahoma joined the SEC. The three-game series is set for March 28-30, with Friday and Sunday’s games streamed on SEC Network+ and Saturday’s contest airing at 2 p.m. on ESPN.