University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, February 6
Clearwater, FL
4 PM ET
University of Tennessee
2-0
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Liberty
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7
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E
Liberty
1
0
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4
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Tennessee
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X
6
6
1
#4 Lady Vols Earn Ranked Win, Second Run-Rule on Friday
February 06, 2026 | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The fourth-ranked Lady Vols played a doubleheader on Friday at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida, defeating No. 21 Liberty 6-1 in Game One before run-ruling Rutgers 9-1 in the nightcap.
Freshman Taelyn Holley had an excellent day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with four runs, a home run and an RBI over the twin bill. Sophia Knight also played well on Friday, going 4-for-6 with two runs, two doubles, one RBI and two stolen bases.
GAME 1: No. 4 Tennessee 6, No. 21 Liberty 1
The Flames (0-1) struck first in the top of the first inning. Paige Doerr led off with a single and eventually scored on Savannah Jessee's RBI single up the middle, with the run going down as unearned after two passed balls moved Doerr into scoring position.
Tennessee (2-0) answered immediately in the bottom half. Sophia Knight walked, stole second and moved to third on a groundout before scoring on Elsa Morrison's sacrifice fly to right field, tying the game at 1-1.
Liberty threatened sporadically over the next few innings, but Karlyn Pickens (1-0) settled in, working out of traffic and holding the Flames scoreless from the second inning on. She allowed four hits over seven innings, with 13 strikeouts and three walks as she went the distance.
The Lady Vols broke the game open in the fourth. Ella Dodge led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Emma Clarke then turned on a pitch and drove it down the left-field line for a two-run homer. One pitch later, Tarlyn Holley followed with her first career home run, a solo shot to left-center, giving Tennessee a 4-1 lead.
Tennessee added insurance in the fifth. After a walk and a single put runners on, Liberty committed a costly error at first base that allowed two unearned runs to score, extending the lead to 6-1.
The Flames did not advance a runner past second base after the first inning.
GAME 2: No. 4 Tennessee 9, Rutgers 1
The Lady Vols (3-0) wasted no time setting the tone against the Scarlet Knights with a six-run first inning. Sophia Knight led off with a single and later came home on a wild pitch to open the scoring.
Tennessee continued to pressure Rutgers, taking advantage of defensive miscues to plate a second run. Emma Clarke delivered an RBI single, and the fourth run of the frame scored on a wild pitch.
Bella Faw drove home Clarke on a sacrifice fly before Knight capped the frame with an RBI double. In all, Tennessee sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning.
After a quiet second inning from Rutgers, Tennessee added to its lead when Makenzie Butt launched a two-run homer to center field, scoring Taelyn Holley and stretching the advantage to 8-0.
Rutgers (1-1) broke through in the third when Addie Osborne connected on a solo home run to center. Tennessee turned to Erin Nuwer (2-0) in relief, and she halted the rally by retiring the first two hitters she faced.
The Lady Vols tacked on another run in the fourth. Holley singled and eventually scored when Faw reached on an infield single to third base. The Rutgers third baseman overthrew first on the play, allowing Holley to advance home, pushing the margin to 9-1.
Maddi Rutan made her first appearance in the circle for the Lady Vols against Rutgers. She went 2.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits. Nuwer entered out of the bullpen, tossing 2.2 frames. She picked up the win – her second of the season – and did not allow a baserunner as she struck out two.
DUE UP
Tennessee wraps up its stay at the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a doubleheader on Saturday. The Lady Vols face Boston College at 1 p.m. ET before a primetime showdown with No. 5 Oregon at 7 p.m.
TENNESSEE DEBUTS
Maddi Rutan added her name to the list of Tennessee debuts this weekend. The junior transfer started at third base against Liberty before making her Big Orange pitching debut versus Rutgers.
Freshman Taelyn Holley had an excellent day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with four runs, a home run and an RBI over the twin bill. Sophia Knight also played well on Friday, going 4-for-6 with two runs, two doubles, one RBI and two stolen bases.
GAME 1: No. 4 Tennessee 6, No. 21 Liberty 1
The Flames (0-1) struck first in the top of the first inning. Paige Doerr led off with a single and eventually scored on Savannah Jessee's RBI single up the middle, with the run going down as unearned after two passed balls moved Doerr into scoring position.
Tennessee (2-0) answered immediately in the bottom half. Sophia Knight walked, stole second and moved to third on a groundout before scoring on Elsa Morrison's sacrifice fly to right field, tying the game at 1-1.
Liberty threatened sporadically over the next few innings, but Karlyn Pickens (1-0) settled in, working out of traffic and holding the Flames scoreless from the second inning on. She allowed four hits over seven innings, with 13 strikeouts and three walks as she went the distance.
The Lady Vols broke the game open in the fourth. Ella Dodge led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Emma Clarke then turned on a pitch and drove it down the left-field line for a two-run homer. One pitch later, Tarlyn Holley followed with her first career home run, a solo shot to left-center, giving Tennessee a 4-1 lead.
Tennessee added insurance in the fifth. After a walk and a single put runners on, Liberty committed a costly error at first base that allowed two unearned runs to score, extending the lead to 6-1.
The Flames did not advance a runner past second base after the first inning.
GAME 2: No. 4 Tennessee 9, Rutgers 1
The Lady Vols (3-0) wasted no time setting the tone against the Scarlet Knights with a six-run first inning. Sophia Knight led off with a single and later came home on a wild pitch to open the scoring.
Tennessee continued to pressure Rutgers, taking advantage of defensive miscues to plate a second run. Emma Clarke delivered an RBI single, and the fourth run of the frame scored on a wild pitch.
Bella Faw drove home Clarke on a sacrifice fly before Knight capped the frame with an RBI double. In all, Tennessee sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning.
After a quiet second inning from Rutgers, Tennessee added to its lead when Makenzie Butt launched a two-run homer to center field, scoring Taelyn Holley and stretching the advantage to 8-0.
Rutgers (1-1) broke through in the third when Addie Osborne connected on a solo home run to center. Tennessee turned to Erin Nuwer (2-0) in relief, and she halted the rally by retiring the first two hitters she faced.
The Lady Vols tacked on another run in the fourth. Holley singled and eventually scored when Faw reached on an infield single to third base. The Rutgers third baseman overthrew first on the play, allowing Holley to advance home, pushing the margin to 9-1.
Maddi Rutan made her first appearance in the circle for the Lady Vols against Rutgers. She went 2.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits. Nuwer entered out of the bullpen, tossing 2.2 frames. She picked up the win – her second of the season – and did not allow a baserunner as she struck out two.
DUE UP
Tennessee wraps up its stay at the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a doubleheader on Saturday. The Lady Vols face Boston College at 1 p.m. ET before a primetime showdown with No. 5 Oregon at 7 p.m.
TENNESSEE DEBUTS
Maddi Rutan added her name to the list of Tennessee debuts this weekend. The junior transfer started at third base against Liberty before making her Big Orange pitching debut versus Rutgers.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pickens, Karlyn (1-0)
L: YODER, Kaylan (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: JESSEE, Savannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DOERR, Paige 1
HBP: JESSEE, Savannah 1
Batting:
2B: Knight, Sophia 1
HR: Clarke, Emma 1 ; Holley, Taelyn 1
RBI: Morrison, Elsa 1 ; Clarke, Emma 2 ; Holley, Taelyn 1
SF: Morrison, Elsa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knight, Sophia 1 ; Leach, Gabby 1 ; Shuler, Zoie 1 ; Dodge, Ella 1 ; Clarke, Emma 1 ; Holley, Taelyn 1
SB: Knight, Sophia 1 ; Dodge, Ella 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/INF
/ SoftballSB | Karlyn Pickens Postgame vs. Liberty (2.6.26)
Friday, February 06
SB | Karen Weekly Postgame vs. Liberty & Rutgers (2.6.26)
Friday, February 06
SB | Elsa Morrison Postgame vs. BYU (2.5.26)
Friday, February 06
SB | Erin Nuwer Postgame vs. BYU (2.5.26)
Friday, February 06
