University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, April 4
Knoxville
6 PM
University of Tennessee
vs
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Mississippi State
SB Preview: #7 Lady Vols Set to Host #17 Mississippi State
April 03, 2025 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 7 Tennessee wraps up its homestand this weekend, hosting No. 17 Mississippi State for a three-game series from April 4-6. First pitch times are set for 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
For more gameday and parking information, visit the softball gameday information page HERE.
Parking shuttles will be available free of charge at the Agricultural Campus, starting 1.5 hours before the first pitch and running all weekend long. When Stephenson Drive lots fill up, fans will be redirected to the Ag Campus parking and shuttles on River Drive.
Please note, the Knoxville Marathon begins Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. ET. Fans attending Sunday's game should anticipate traffic delays and possible roadblocks.
FOLLOW LIVE
Friday and Saturday's games will be broadcast on SEC Network, with Charles Kempf (play-by-play) and Erin Miller (analyst) on the call. Sunday's game will be available for streaming on SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app, with Will Boling (play-by-play) and Jill Jelnick (analyst) covering the action.
Brian Rice, the Voice of the Lady Vols, will provide a free audio broadcast available via UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app. Fans can also listen on AM 990. Links to the audio broadcast can be found on the Tennessee softball schedule page and on the @Vol_Softball social media accounts.
NOTABLE
RANKINGS
Tennessee is ranked in all four major polls heading into the weekend: No. 7 (NFCA), No. 6 (USASB), No. 10 (D1S) and No. 9 (SA).
AGAINST THE BULLDOGS
Tennessee squares off against Mississippi State this weekend as the Bulldogs return to Knoxville for the first time since 2022. Last season, the Lady Vols took two of three games from MSU in Starkville. UT has won the last two series between the programs.
EASY PICKENS
Karlyn Pickens has been exceptional this season, posting a 13-4 record with a 1.03 ERA, ranking sixth nationally and leading the SEC. She also ranks ninth in Division I and second in the league with 143 strikeouts. Her K/7 rate of 9.8 is 11th in the nation and third in the SEC.
On March 24, Pickens set the fastest-recorded pitch in softball history at 78.2 MPH, surpassing the previous record held by Tennessee legend Monica Abbott (77 MPH).
SEC SUCCESS
Tennessee has been strong in conference play over the past couple of seasons, winning 18 of its last 20 league series with a record of 46-14. That run includes eight sweeps.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Friendly Confines of Sherri Parker Lee have been good to the Lady Vols. Since 2021, Tennessee is 111-24 at home and has outscored opponents 865- 336. In league play, UT has won 13 out of 17 home series during that span.
LAST TIME OUT
After taking two of three games from No. 2 Oklahoma in Norman, the Lady Vols returned home Tuesday night for a midweek contest against Western Carolina. UT won 4-0 over the Catamounts with freshman Erin Nuwer spinning a gem. She allowed just one hit and one walk over seven dominant innings. Nuwer struck out 12 of the 24 batters she faced, retiring 21 of them.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
Head Coach (Record at Mississippi State): Samantha Ricketts (189-108)
2025 Record: 30-6, 6-3 SEC
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 47-22
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 23-11
In Starkville: Tennessee leads, 21-10
At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Tennessee won 7-3 on April 14, 2024, in Starkville, Mississippi
DUE UP
Following this weekend's series, Tennessee will travel to Austin, Texas, for a three-game series against the Longhorns. It will be the first meeting between the two programs as conference rivals.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
For more gameday and parking information, visit the softball gameday information page HERE.
Parking shuttles will be available free of charge at the Agricultural Campus, starting 1.5 hours before the first pitch and running all weekend long. When Stephenson Drive lots fill up, fans will be redirected to the Ag Campus parking and shuttles on River Drive.
Please note, the Knoxville Marathon begins Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. ET. Fans attending Sunday's game should anticipate traffic delays and possible roadblocks.
FOLLOW LIVE
Friday and Saturday's games will be broadcast on SEC Network, with Charles Kempf (play-by-play) and Erin Miller (analyst) on the call. Sunday's game will be available for streaming on SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app, with Will Boling (play-by-play) and Jill Jelnick (analyst) covering the action.
Brian Rice, the Voice of the Lady Vols, will provide a free audio broadcast available via UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app. Fans can also listen on AM 990. Links to the audio broadcast can be found on the Tennessee softball schedule page and on the @Vol_Softball social media accounts.
NOTABLE
RANKINGS
Tennessee is ranked in all four major polls heading into the weekend: No. 7 (NFCA), No. 6 (USASB), No. 10 (D1S) and No. 9 (SA).
AGAINST THE BULLDOGS
Tennessee squares off against Mississippi State this weekend as the Bulldogs return to Knoxville for the first time since 2022. Last season, the Lady Vols took two of three games from MSU in Starkville. UT has won the last two series between the programs.
EASY PICKENS
Karlyn Pickens has been exceptional this season, posting a 13-4 record with a 1.03 ERA, ranking sixth nationally and leading the SEC. She also ranks ninth in Division I and second in the league with 143 strikeouts. Her K/7 rate of 9.8 is 11th in the nation and third in the SEC.
On March 24, Pickens set the fastest-recorded pitch in softball history at 78.2 MPH, surpassing the previous record held by Tennessee legend Monica Abbott (77 MPH).
SEC SUCCESS
Tennessee has been strong in conference play over the past couple of seasons, winning 18 of its last 20 league series with a record of 46-14. That run includes eight sweeps.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Friendly Confines of Sherri Parker Lee have been good to the Lady Vols. Since 2021, Tennessee is 111-24 at home and has outscored opponents 865- 336. In league play, UT has won 13 out of 17 home series during that span.
LAST TIME OUT
After taking two of three games from No. 2 Oklahoma in Norman, the Lady Vols returned home Tuesday night for a midweek contest against Western Carolina. UT won 4-0 over the Catamounts with freshman Erin Nuwer spinning a gem. She allowed just one hit and one walk over seven dominant innings. Nuwer struck out 12 of the 24 batters she faced, retiring 21 of them.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
Head Coach (Record at Mississippi State): Samantha Ricketts (189-108)
2025 Record: 30-6, 6-3 SEC
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 47-22
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 23-11
In Starkville: Tennessee leads, 21-10
At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Tennessee won 7-3 on April 14, 2024, in Starkville, Mississippi
DUE UP
Following this weekend's series, Tennessee will travel to Austin, Texas, for a three-game series against the Longhorns. It will be the first meeting between the two programs as conference rivals.
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Players Mentioned
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