Why Tennessee softball has utilized pitching staff differently, and why it's worked

Tennessee softball has had three true aces on its pitching staff before, but it has never used them like it has this season. During Karlyn Pickens' freshman season in 2023, the Lady Vols worked with a rotation of Ashley Rogers, Payton Gottshall and Pickens, and the trio led Tennessee to the Women's College World Series for the first time in eight years. Three years later, the Lady Vols have three true aces again with Pickens , Sage Mardjetko and Erin Nuwer.

But coach Karen Weekly said they've utilized the staff in a new way. "I don’t think we ever used them the way we’re using these guys now in terms of preparing people to be a starter, a bridge, or a closer," Weekly said on May 19. "Back then it was more, hey, this is your game, and they went all seven innings.

" The depth of Tennessee's staff will be crucial in its fourth straight appearance in the NCAA super regional. The No. 7 seed Lady Vols (45-10) face No.

10 seed Georgia  (41-18) in a  best-of-three series at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium  that begins May 21 (7 p. m. ET, ESPN2).