University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, February 27
Knoxville
3 PM ET
University of Tennessee
15-0
9
vs
1
Appalachian State
12-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
R
H
E
App State
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
3
Tennessee
0
0
0
0
6
3
9
7
1
#1 Tennessee Improves to 16-0 with Doubleheader Sweep
February 27, 2026 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 1-ranked Lady Vols opened up at home with two wins on day one of the Tennessee Invitational at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Tennessee run-ruled Appalachian State 9-1 in six innings in Game One, before securing a 4-1 win over Penn State in Game Two.
Erin Nuwer and Sage Mardjetko were rock solid in the circle for the Lady Vols as they each tossed complete games. Nuwer started against App State, allowing one run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts in six innings of work.
Mardjetko shone in the nightcap, twirling a one-hit gem. She tossed seven innings, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Over her last three appearances, Mardjetko has 33 strikeouts.
UT's 16-0 start ties the 2005 squad for the third-best start in program history.
Game 1: No. 1 Tennessee 9, Appalachian State 1 (6 innings)
Tennessee scored nine unanswered runs – including six in the fifth inning - to defeat Appalachian State 9-1 in six innings.
Appalachian State (12-3) took a 1-0 lead in the first when Makayla McClain homered to left field. It marked one of four hits on the day for the Mountaineers, who were held scoreless the rest of the way.
Erin Nuwer (7-0) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts and no walks over six innings.
The Lady Vols were limited to two hits through the first four innings before breaking through in the fifth. Tennessee loaded the bases on a fielder's choice, a hit batter and consecutive walks by Gabby Leach and Taelyn Holley. Holley's bases-loaded walk tied the game, and Ella Dodge followed with another walk to give Tennessee a 2-1 lead.
Elsa Morrison then delivered the decisive blow, clearing the bases with a three-run double to center field to make it 5-1. Mackenzie Butt later reached on a fielding error that allowed another unearned run to score as Tennessee capitalized on two App State errors in the inning to take a 6-1 advantage.
Tennessee added three more runs in the sixth. Holley doubled to left field, driving in two runs, and Morrison followed with an RBI single to right to end the game via the run rule.
Morrison finished 3 for 4 with a double and four RBIs, while Holley added a double and three RBIs.
Game 2: No. 1 Tennessee 4, Penn State 1
The Lady Vols improved to 16-0 with a 4-1 victory over Penn State, using a four-run fifth inning to secure the win.
Penn State (14-3) took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a solo home run to left field by Allison Oneacre – the Nittany Lions' only hit of the game.
Tennessee broke through in the fifth. Sophia Knight led off with a bunt single, and Gabby Leach reached on a fielder's choice. Elsa Morrison followed with a single to left to load the bases. Ella Dodge then delivered the decisive blow, launching a grand slam to left field to give the Lady Vols a 4-1 advantage.
Sage Mardjetko earned the win with a complete-game performance. The junior retired 10 of the final 11 batters she faced.
Tennessee finished with six hits, while Penn State was limited to one.
DUE UP
The Lady Vols will continue tournament play with another doubleheader, taking on Penn State and North Carolina Central in Saturday's contests. Game one is set for 3 p.m. ET, with game two following approximately thirty-five minutes after the end.
Erin Nuwer and Sage Mardjetko were rock solid in the circle for the Lady Vols as they each tossed complete games. Nuwer started against App State, allowing one run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts in six innings of work.
Mardjetko shone in the nightcap, twirling a one-hit gem. She tossed seven innings, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Over her last three appearances, Mardjetko has 33 strikeouts.
UT's 16-0 start ties the 2005 squad for the third-best start in program history.
Game 1: No. 1 Tennessee 9, Appalachian State 1 (6 innings)
Tennessee scored nine unanswered runs – including six in the fifth inning - to defeat Appalachian State 9-1 in six innings.
Appalachian State (12-3) took a 1-0 lead in the first when Makayla McClain homered to left field. It marked one of four hits on the day for the Mountaineers, who were held scoreless the rest of the way.
Erin Nuwer (7-0) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts and no walks over six innings.
The Lady Vols were limited to two hits through the first four innings before breaking through in the fifth. Tennessee loaded the bases on a fielder's choice, a hit batter and consecutive walks by Gabby Leach and Taelyn Holley. Holley's bases-loaded walk tied the game, and Ella Dodge followed with another walk to give Tennessee a 2-1 lead.
Elsa Morrison then delivered the decisive blow, clearing the bases with a three-run double to center field to make it 5-1. Mackenzie Butt later reached on a fielding error that allowed another unearned run to score as Tennessee capitalized on two App State errors in the inning to take a 6-1 advantage.
Tennessee added three more runs in the sixth. Holley doubled to left field, driving in two runs, and Morrison followed with an RBI single to right to end the game via the run rule.
Morrison finished 3 for 4 with a double and four RBIs, while Holley added a double and three RBIs.
Game 2: No. 1 Tennessee 4, Penn State 1
The Lady Vols improved to 16-0 with a 4-1 victory over Penn State, using a four-run fifth inning to secure the win.
Penn State (14-3) took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a solo home run to left field by Allison Oneacre – the Nittany Lions' only hit of the game.
Tennessee broke through in the fifth. Sophia Knight led off with a bunt single, and Gabby Leach reached on a fielder's choice. Elsa Morrison followed with a single to left to load the bases. Ella Dodge then delivered the decisive blow, launching a grand slam to left field to give the Lady Vols a 4-1 advantage.
Sage Mardjetko earned the win with a complete-game performance. The junior retired 10 of the final 11 batters she faced.
Tennessee finished with six hits, while Penn State was limited to one.
DUE UP
The Lady Vols will continue tournament play with another doubleheader, taking on Penn State and North Carolina Central in Saturday's contests. Game one is set for 3 p.m. ET, with game two following approximately thirty-five minutes after the end.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nuwer, Erin (7-0)
L: Camryn Fisher (5-1)
Batting:
2B: Grace Barrett 1
HR: Makayla McClain 1
RBI: Makayla McClain 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Makayla McClain 1
Batting:
2B: Holley, Taelyn 1 ; Morrison, Elsa 2
RBI: Holley, Taelyn 3 ; Dodge, Ella 1 ; Morrison, Elsa 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Knight, Sophia 1 ; Leach, Gabby 2 ; Holley, Taelyn 1 ; Dodge, Ella 1 ; Morgan, Saviya 1 ; Clarke, Emma 1 ; Rutan, Maddi 2
SB: Knight, Sophia 1 ; Rutan, Maddi 2
CS: Dodge, Ella 1
HBP: Knight, Sophia 1
Game Leaders
ss/c
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
4
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
c/1b
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
UT
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSB | Karen Weekly Postgame vs. App State & Penn State (2.27.26)
Friday, February 27
SB | Sage Mardjetko Postgame vs. App State & Penn State (2.27.26)
Friday, February 27
SB | Ella Dodge Postgame vs. App State & Penn State (2.27.26)
Friday, February 27
SB | Karen Weekly Press Conference (2.24.26)
Tuesday, February 24
