Karlyn Pickens totals 101 pitches, nine strikeouts in win at Missouri

No. 8 Tennessee (41-8, 15-7 SEC) opened a three-game series against Missouri (27-27, 8-14 SEC) on Thursday for its final SEC softball series in the regular season. Rankings reflect the NFCA/GoRout Division I Coaches Poll.

The Lady Vols won the series opener, 3-1, at Mizzou Softball Stadium in Columbia, Missouri. Sage Mardjetko started for Tennessee and pitched 0. 2 innings.

She allowed three walks and totaled 19 pitches (five strikes) against five batters. Karlyn Pickens (13-6) pitched 6. 1 innings in relief, recording her 13th win of the season.

She totaled nine strikeouts and 101 pitches, including 64 strikes, against 24 batters. Pickens allowed four hits, one run (one earned) and one walk. Tennessee recorded 10 hits in Game 1, including a solo home run from Alannah Leach in the sixth inning.