University of Tennessee Athletics
Karlyn Pickens Named Softball America Preseason All-American
January 13, 2026 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Two-time consensus first-team All-American Karlyn Pickens was named to Softball America's Preseason All-America First Team on Tuesday.
The senior has amassed an extensive list of preseason honors, highlighted by being ranked Softball America's No. 3 overall player and the nation's No. 2 pitcher entering the 2026 season. She was also selected as D1Softball's No. 3 player in its Top 100 rankings.
Regarded as one of the most overpowering arms in college softball, Pickens posted a 25–11 record with a 1.17 ERA over 226.2 innings during the 2025 season. She recorded 306 strikeouts, held opponents to just 4.45 hits per seven innings and appeared in 44 games, including 34 starts. Her résumé included 25 complete games, seven shutouts and three saves.
Pickens led the SEC in ERA, games started, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, strikeouts and opponent batting average, earning SEC Pitcher of the Year honors for the second consecutive season and All-SEC First Team recognition.
Her dominance carried into the postseason. At the Women's College World Series, Pickens threw a season-high nine innings against No. 9 UCLA, firing 148 pitches to secure her 25th win and propel Tennessee into the semifinals. She also surrendered just one earned run over six innings against No. 6 Texas in the national semifinals. Earlier in the postseason, she forced a decisive Super Regional Game 3 versus Nebraska with a complete-game performance that featured a record-breaking 79.4 mph pitch.
Pickens made national headlines during the season by setting – and later surpassing – the record for the fastest pitch in softball history. She initially reached 78.2 mph on March 24 before breaking her own mark with a 79.4 mph pitch in postseason play on May 24.
Her standout performances earned consistent national recognition, as Pickens was named SEC Pitcher of the Week and NFCA Pitcher of the Week three times each during the 2025 campaign.
The senior has amassed an extensive list of preseason honors, highlighted by being ranked Softball America's No. 3 overall player and the nation's No. 2 pitcher entering the 2026 season. She was also selected as D1Softball's No. 3 player in its Top 100 rankings.
Regarded as one of the most overpowering arms in college softball, Pickens posted a 25–11 record with a 1.17 ERA over 226.2 innings during the 2025 season. She recorded 306 strikeouts, held opponents to just 4.45 hits per seven innings and appeared in 44 games, including 34 starts. Her résumé included 25 complete games, seven shutouts and three saves.
Pickens led the SEC in ERA, games started, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, strikeouts and opponent batting average, earning SEC Pitcher of the Year honors for the second consecutive season and All-SEC First Team recognition.
Her dominance carried into the postseason. At the Women's College World Series, Pickens threw a season-high nine innings against No. 9 UCLA, firing 148 pitches to secure her 25th win and propel Tennessee into the semifinals. She also surrendered just one earned run over six innings against No. 6 Texas in the national semifinals. Earlier in the postseason, she forced a decisive Super Regional Game 3 versus Nebraska with a complete-game performance that featured a record-breaking 79.4 mph pitch.
Pickens made national headlines during the season by setting – and later surpassing – the record for the fastest pitch in softball history. She initially reached 78.2 mph on March 24 before breaking her own mark with a 79.4 mph pitch in postseason play on May 24.
Her standout performances earned consistent national recognition, as Pickens was named SEC Pitcher of the Week and NFCA Pitcher of the Week three times each during the 2025 campaign.
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballSB | 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
