SB Preview: Lamar/McNeese Tournament

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 6 Tennessee will travel to Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Beaumont, Texas, for a split weekend. The Lady Vols will face McNeese in a Valentine's Day doubleheader in Lake Charles before taking on Tulsa and Lamar on Saturday in Beaumont. The weekend will wrap up on Sunday with a matchup against Nicholls.

BROADCAST INFO
Both games at McNeese will be available for streaming on ESPN+ and through the ESPN App. Saturday's game against Lamar will also be available on ESPN+. Tom Hoefer (play-by-play) and Bailey Tillman (analyst) will call the games at McNeese.

Fans can also listen to Charley Collier via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.

Streaming, live stats, and radio links can be found on the Tennessee softball schedule page at UTSports.com.

NOTABLE PRESEASON RANKINGS
Tennessee enters Week Two ranked in the top six in all four major polls: No. 6 (NFCA), No. 6 (USASB), No. 5 (D1S), and No. 6 (SA).

LONG TIME NO SEE
This weekend marks the first matchups with two opponents the Lady Vols haven't faced since the late '90s. UT last played Nicholls on April 7, 1996, and its only meeting with Tulsa was on Feb. 21, 1998.

ROAD WARRIORS
The Lady Vols are 25-5 in true road games and 27-9 at neutral sites since 2023. This includes three conference sweeps at No. 10 LSU (2023), at No. 16 Kentucky (2023), and at No. 23 South Carolina (2024).

BREAKING OUT THE STICKS
Tennessee's offense came alive in Clearwater, outscoring opponents 51-14 over six games. The Lady Vols run-ruled four teams and averaged 8.5 runs per game, ranking fourth in the SEC and 18th nationally.

As a team, UT hit .364 with a .622 slugging percentage and a .489 on-base percentage. The Lady Vols showed patience at the plate, drawing 31 walks, ranking second in the SEC and fifth nationally.

DOWN IN THE HEART OF TEXAS
Tennessee's trip to Texas this weekend will mark the third consecutive year the team has played in the Lone Star State. In 2023, UT played a three-game series at Texas A&M, and last season, the Lady Vols opened the year in Texas with one game at UT-Arlington and two games at Baylor.

Tennessee is 5-1 in its last six games in Texas, defeating Texas A&M and Baylor twice and UT-Arlington once. The Lady Vols have outscored their opponents 39-9 in those six contests.

SCOUTING McNEESE
Head Coach (Record at McNeese): James Landreneau (301-163)
2025 Record: 3-2
Series Record: First meeting
Last Meeting: N/A

SCOUTING TULSA
Head Coach (Record at Tulsa): Crissy Strimple (301-163)
2025 Record: 3-2
Series Record: Tulsa leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: L, Tulsa 5-2 (2/21/98)

SCOUTING LAMAR
Head Coach (Record at Lamar): Amy Hooks (102-187)
2025 Record: 3-1
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: W, UT 8-0 (5) (3/6/21)

SCOUTING NICHOLLS
Head Coach (Record at Nicholls): Ron Frost (2-2)
2025 Record: 2-2
Series Record: Nicholls leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: L, Nicholls 4-2 (4/7/96)

DUE UP
After the weekend in Texas, Tennessee will head to California for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City from Feb. 20-22. UT will face Oregon State, No. 21 Oregon, Rutgers, No. 4 UCLA, and Minnesota.

University of Tennessee Athletics

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