University of Tennessee Athletics
Gotthshall, Milloy and Pickens Named Top 26 Finalists for USA Softball Player of the Year
May 02, 2024 | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY – Tennessee softball's Payton Gottshall, Kiki Milloy and Karlyn Pickens have been named top 26 finalists for USA Softball's National Player of the Year award.
Gottshall is one-half of the Lady Vols' two-headed pitching machine that leads the nation in ERA (1.27), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.46) and is third nationally in shutouts (19). Individually, the right-hander is fourth in the nation and first in the SEC in ERA at 1.03, while also leading the conference in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.09) and walks allowed per seven innings (1.31).
The graduate pitcher is 18-4 in her final collegiate campaign with 122.2 innings pitched and 140 strikeouts. Opposing batters are hitting just .163 against Gottshall this season.
Milloy lands on the top 25 watch list for the second year in a row. The outfielder leads Tennessee and ranks fourth in the nation in runs per game, averaging 1.26. She is also tops on the squad with 50 hits, 12 doubles, two triples and is tied for second with 10 home runs.
Playing in her fifth season on Rocky Top, Milloy has set several career records in 2024 including home runs and runs scored.
Pickens completes Tennessee's Big Orange pitching machine, ranking just behind her teammate in ERA with a mark of 1.05 – the fifth-best in the nation. The sophomore is seventh nationally and first in the SEC in hits allowed per seven innings at 3.76, while ranking second in the country and tops in the league in shutouts with 10.
The flamethrower holds a 17-5 record on the year with 13 complete games, 139.2 innings pitched and 169 strikeouts. Pickens tossed the second perfect game of her career earlier this season against Loyola Marymount on Feb. 23.
Tennessee has the second-most athletes named to the top 26.
The Top 26 Finalists will be narrowed down to 10 athletes on May 15, followed by the Top 3 Finalists set to be released on May 20. The 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed prior to the Women's College World Series.
Gottshall is one-half of the Lady Vols' two-headed pitching machine that leads the nation in ERA (1.27), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.46) and is third nationally in shutouts (19). Individually, the right-hander is fourth in the nation and first in the SEC in ERA at 1.03, while also leading the conference in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.09) and walks allowed per seven innings (1.31).
The graduate pitcher is 18-4 in her final collegiate campaign with 122.2 innings pitched and 140 strikeouts. Opposing batters are hitting just .163 against Gottshall this season.
Milloy lands on the top 25 watch list for the second year in a row. The outfielder leads Tennessee and ranks fourth in the nation in runs per game, averaging 1.26. She is also tops on the squad with 50 hits, 12 doubles, two triples and is tied for second with 10 home runs.
Playing in her fifth season on Rocky Top, Milloy has set several career records in 2024 including home runs and runs scored.
Pickens completes Tennessee's Big Orange pitching machine, ranking just behind her teammate in ERA with a mark of 1.05 – the fifth-best in the nation. The sophomore is seventh nationally and first in the SEC in hits allowed per seven innings at 3.76, while ranking second in the country and tops in the league in shutouts with 10.
The flamethrower holds a 17-5 record on the year with 13 complete games, 139.2 innings pitched and 169 strikeouts. Pickens tossed the second perfect game of her career earlier this season against Loyola Marymount on Feb. 23.
Tennessee has the second-most athletes named to the top 26.
The Top 26 Finalists will be narrowed down to 10 athletes on May 15, followed by the Top 3 Finalists set to be released on May 20. The 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed prior to the Women's College World Series.
Players Mentioned
SB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Nebraska (5.25.25)
Sunday, May 25
SB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Nebraska (5.24.25)
Saturday, May 24
SB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Nebraska (5.23.25)
Friday, May 23
SB | Tennessee Postgame vs. Ohio State (5.18.25)
Sunday, May 18
