Karlyn Pickens Throws No-Hitter in Series Opener for Tennessee
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens struck out 12 batters and threw a complete-game no-hitter Saturday afternoon as the No. 9 Tennessee Lady Vols shutout Kentucky in the series opener at John Cropp Stadium.
Pickens threw 99 pitches in the game with 65 recorded as strikes and struck out a season-high 12 batters on the afternoon to complete the no-hitter. Kentucky had four base runners in the game with Emory Donaldson reaching on a walk, Maddy Clark reaching on a hit by pitch and two Tennessee errors charged to its infield.
Game two of the series will be Sunday at 6 p.m. ET with the action live on SEC Network and the ESPN app as Chuckie Kempf and Jenny Dalton-Hill will have the call from John Cropp Stadium.
Tennessee, ranked No. 9 in the nation, is now 35-6 on the season and moves to 10-6 in SEC games. The Wildcats fall to 1-15 in the SEC and now sit four games above .500 with a 24-20 overall record.
Run Recap
Emma Clarke hit a solo home run to right field in the top of the fourth inning to open the scoring. UT 1, UK 0
In the top of the fifth, a lead-off walk turned into a run for the Lady Vols on a one-out sac fly by Meredith Barnhart. UT 2, UK 0
Elsa Morrison hit a solo home run to left field in the top of the sixth. UT 3, UK 0
Tennessee hit back-to-back solo HR’s with two outs in the top of the seventh off the bats of Gabby Leach and Ella Didge. FINAL – Tennessee 5, Kentucky 0
Key Player
McKenzie Oslanzi was the key player for Kentucky, throwing 4.1 innings allowing only two runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts. Oslanzi got the start and went the first 4.0 innings and then re-entered to get the final out in the top of the seventh.
Key Moment
Pickens’ final out to complete the no-hitter was the key moment of the game. The no-hitter was the first against Kentucky since Alex Storacko did it in 2023.
Key Stat
2,433. The largest crowd at John Cropp Stadium this season.
Pitching Recap
McKenzie Oslanzi pitched beautifully for Kentucky on Saturday, allowing only two runs on three hits with two strikeouts. Sarah Haendiges entered in the top of the fifth and got eight outs before Oslanzi re-entered the game to record the final out needed on her second strikeout of the game.
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