University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, February 28
Knoxville
3 PM ET
University of Tennessee
17-0
3
vs
1
Penn State
15-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Penn State
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
3
1
Tennessee
1
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0
X
3
5
0
#1 Lady Vols Pick Up Two Wins on Saturday, Throw Combined No-Hitter
February 28, 2026 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 1-ranked Lady Vols improved to 18-0 on Saturday with wins over Appalachian State and Penn State on Day Two of the Tennessee Invitational at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
With its 18-0 start, the 2026 Tennessee softball team now claims the third-best start in program history, surpassing the 2005 squad that began 14-0.
In the nightcap against North Carolina Central, Erin Nuwer and Sage Mardjetko combined to throw Tennessee's third no-hitter of the season. Erin Nuwer (8-0) started in the circle and struck out five over three scoreless innings, allowing one walk. Sage Mardjetko worked the final two innings to complete the combined no-no, striking out four while yielding one walk.
Head coach Karen Weekly now has 1,373 career victories, which moves her into seventh place on the NCAA Softball Division I all-time wins list.
GAME 1: #1 Tennessee 3, Penn State 1
Tennessee scored three runs over the first two innings and made the early advantage stand in a 3-1 victory over Penn State.
The Lady Vols struck quickly in the first as Sophia Knight and Gabby Leach reached on singles before both moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Taelyn Holley. An Ella Dodge walk loaded the bases, but a fielder's choice cut down the lead runner at the plate. With two away and the bases still juiced, Emma Clarke was hit by a pitch, forcing in Leach for a 1-0 lead.
Tennessee added two more runs in the second. A pitch hit Bella Faw and Knight delivered a single to right with Faw making it around to third on the hit. With Faw and Knight in scoring position, Leach reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Faw from third. Leach put pressure on the defense by advancing to second. As she did, Knight broke for home. An obstruction error by the catcher allowed Knight to score the second run on the play, pushing the margin to 3-0.
Penn State (15-4) trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the fifth as Madison Seidel singled and scored on a base hit to left by Breanna Hanik.
Karlyn Pickens (5-0) earned the win in the circle, limiting the Nittany Lions to one run on three hits over seven innings. She struck out nine and did not allow an extra-base hit. Pickens worked out of traffic in the sixth after a leadoff single by Allison Oneacre and closed the game with a pair of strikeouts in the seventh.
Tennessee finished with five hits, led by Knight's three-hit performance at the top of the lineup.
GAME 2: #1 Tennessee 8, North Carolina Central 0 (5 innings)
Tennessee scored eight runs over the first two innings and cruised to an 8-0, five-inning run-rule victory over NC Central.
The Lady Vols wasted no time in the first as they opened up a doubles party. Sophia Knight doubled down the left-field line and Ella Dodge followed with a double to right-center to plate the game's first run. After a groundout moved Dodge to third, Elsa Morrison lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0. Gabby Leach singled and Mackenzie Butt added an RBI double down the left-field line to push the lead to 3-0.
Tennessee broke the game open in the second, sending five runs across. Bella Faw walked and later scored on Knight's second double of the game. Dodge then delivered her second RBI double of the evening, and Taelyn Holley followed with an RBI single up the middle. Morrison added an RBI double to left, advancing to third on the throw, and Leach capped the outburst with a run-scoring groundout for an 8-0 advantage.
Tennessee finished with nine hits, including two doubles each from Knight and Dodge.
DUE UP
The Tennessee Invitational concludes Sunday as the Lady Vols play Appalachian State at 12:30 p.m. ET.
With its 18-0 start, the 2026 Tennessee softball team now claims the third-best start in program history, surpassing the 2005 squad that began 14-0.
In the nightcap against North Carolina Central, Erin Nuwer and Sage Mardjetko combined to throw Tennessee's third no-hitter of the season. Erin Nuwer (8-0) started in the circle and struck out five over three scoreless innings, allowing one walk. Sage Mardjetko worked the final two innings to complete the combined no-no, striking out four while yielding one walk.
Head coach Karen Weekly now has 1,373 career victories, which moves her into seventh place on the NCAA Softball Division I all-time wins list.
GAME 1: #1 Tennessee 3, Penn State 1
Tennessee scored three runs over the first two innings and made the early advantage stand in a 3-1 victory over Penn State.
The Lady Vols struck quickly in the first as Sophia Knight and Gabby Leach reached on singles before both moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Taelyn Holley. An Ella Dodge walk loaded the bases, but a fielder's choice cut down the lead runner at the plate. With two away and the bases still juiced, Emma Clarke was hit by a pitch, forcing in Leach for a 1-0 lead.
Tennessee added two more runs in the second. A pitch hit Bella Faw and Knight delivered a single to right with Faw making it around to third on the hit. With Faw and Knight in scoring position, Leach reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Faw from third. Leach put pressure on the defense by advancing to second. As she did, Knight broke for home. An obstruction error by the catcher allowed Knight to score the second run on the play, pushing the margin to 3-0.
Penn State (15-4) trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the fifth as Madison Seidel singled and scored on a base hit to left by Breanna Hanik.
Karlyn Pickens (5-0) earned the win in the circle, limiting the Nittany Lions to one run on three hits over seven innings. She struck out nine and did not allow an extra-base hit. Pickens worked out of traffic in the sixth after a leadoff single by Allison Oneacre and closed the game with a pair of strikeouts in the seventh.
Tennessee finished with five hits, led by Knight's three-hit performance at the top of the lineup.
GAME 2: #1 Tennessee 8, North Carolina Central 0 (5 innings)
Tennessee scored eight runs over the first two innings and cruised to an 8-0, five-inning run-rule victory over NC Central.
The Lady Vols wasted no time in the first as they opened up a doubles party. Sophia Knight doubled down the left-field line and Ella Dodge followed with a double to right-center to plate the game's first run. After a groundout moved Dodge to third, Elsa Morrison lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0. Gabby Leach singled and Mackenzie Butt added an RBI double down the left-field line to push the lead to 3-0.
Tennessee broke the game open in the second, sending five runs across. Bella Faw walked and later scored on Knight's second double of the game. Dodge then delivered her second RBI double of the evening, and Taelyn Holley followed with an RBI single up the middle. Morrison added an RBI double to left, advancing to third on the throw, and Leach capped the outburst with a run-scoring groundout for an 8-0 advantage.
Tennessee finished with nine hits, including two doubles each from Knight and Dodge.
DUE UP
The Tennessee Invitational concludes Sunday as the Lady Vols play Appalachian State at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pickens, Karlyn (5-0)
L: Bridget Nemeth (3-2)
Batting:
RBI: Breanna Hanik 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kalli Karwowski 1
Batting:
RBI: Leach, Gabby 1 ; Clarke, Emma 1
SH: Holley, Taelyn 1 ; Morgan, Saviya 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knight, Sophia 1 ; Leach, Gabby 1 ; Faw, Bella 1
HBP: Clarke, Emma 1 ; Faw, Bella 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSB | Karen Weekly Postgame vs. Penn State & NC Central (2.28.26)
Saturday, February 28
SB | Erin Nuwer Postgame vs. Penn State & NC Central (2.28.26)
Saturday, February 28
SB | Elsa Morrison Postgame vs. Penn State & NC Central (2.28.26)
Saturday, February 28
SB | Karen Weekly Postgame vs. App State & Penn State (2.27.26)
Friday, February 27
