AUSTIN, Texas – No. 7 Tennessee knocked off top-ranked Texas, 3-1, on Saturday night at Red and Charline McCombs Field, securing the program’s first-ever true road win over a No. 1 team and its first victory over a top-ranked opponent since 2017.
 
Tennessee (33-9, 8-6 SEC) struck early with a two-out, two-run homer in the first inning off the bat of McKenna Gibson — her 10th of the season and fourth in the last five games.
 
The Lady Vols carried a 2-0 lead into the fourth before Texas (39-4, 11-3 SEC) responded with a run on two hits and two walks. The Longhorns loaded the bases with two outs, but Tennessee escaped the jam with a groundout to preserve the lead.
 
In the seventh, Tennessee added insurance. Laura Mealer led off with a single to left and was replaced by pinch-runner Katie Taylor, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Gabby Leach then delivered a clutch RBI single up the middle to push the lead to 3-1.
 
The Longhorns went down in order in the bottom half as Tennessee closed out a statement win.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
 Karlyn Pickens was dominant in the circle, going the distance for her 16th win of the season. The junior right-hander allowed just one run on four hits, walking three and striking out eight. Pickens, a native of Weaverville, North Carolina, held her season ERA at 0.93 and lowered her SEC ERA to 1.15.
 
CHECK THE STATS
Gibson’s first-inning home run was the 43rd of her career, moving her within one of tying Madison Shipman for fifth on Tennessee’s all-time list.
 
The Lady Vols’ win marked their first in Austin and improved their record to 1-2 all-time against the Longhorns in the Texas capital. It was Tennessee’s first win over a No. 1 team since a 5-1 victory over Florida in Knoxville on April 30, 2017.
 
DUE UP
Tennessee and Texas conclude their three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. ET and will be available to stream on SEC Network+.