University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, March 20
Gainesville, FL
6 PM ET
University of Tennessee
28-1, 6-1
2
at
1
Florida
29-2, 6-1
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Tennessee
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
4
2
FLORIDA
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
#1 Tennessee Takes Game 1 Over #5 Florida, 2-1
March 20, 2026 | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 1 Tennessee rallied to defeat No. 5 Florida, 2-1, in Game 1 on Friday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Tennessee (28-1, 6-1 SEC) leaned on strong pitching performances from Sage Mardjetko and Karlyn Pickens to secure the win. The duo held Florida's high-powered offense to four hits while combining for 12 strikeouts.
Florida (29-2, 6-1 SEC) struck first when Kenleigh Cahalan led off the second inning with a home run.
Mardjetko settled in from there, allowing just one additional hit over four innings. The Lemont, Illinois, native scattered three hits, struck out seven and walked none while allowing one run to earn her seventh win of the season.
Tennessee took the lead in the fifth. With one out, Sophia Knight doubled to center and scored on Ella Dodge's RBI double to right. After a walk and a fielder's choice, Alannah Leach drove in her twin sister Gabby Leach to give the Lady Vols a 2-1 advantage.
Pickens entered in the fifth and delivered in key moments. Florida loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth, but Pickens escaped the jam with three consecutive strikeouts.
The Gators threatened again in the seventh, putting runners on the corners with two outs. A wild pitch moved the winning run into scoring position, but Pickens recorded a strikeout to end the game.
Pickens earned her second save of the season, tossing three scoreless innings while allowing one hit, walking three and striking out five.
DUE UP
Tennessee and Florida are back in action on Saturday for Game 2 of the series. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. ET on SECN+.
Tennessee (28-1, 6-1 SEC) leaned on strong pitching performances from Sage Mardjetko and Karlyn Pickens to secure the win. The duo held Florida's high-powered offense to four hits while combining for 12 strikeouts.
Florida (29-2, 6-1 SEC) struck first when Kenleigh Cahalan led off the second inning with a home run.
Mardjetko settled in from there, allowing just one additional hit over four innings. The Lemont, Illinois, native scattered three hits, struck out seven and walked none while allowing one run to earn her seventh win of the season.
Tennessee took the lead in the fifth. With one out, Sophia Knight doubled to center and scored on Ella Dodge's RBI double to right. After a walk and a fielder's choice, Alannah Leach drove in her twin sister Gabby Leach to give the Lady Vols a 2-1 advantage.
Pickens entered in the fifth and delivered in key moments. Florida loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth, but Pickens escaped the jam with three consecutive strikeouts.
The Gators threatened again in the seventh, putting runners on the corners with two outs. A wild pitch moved the winning run into scoring position, but Pickens recorded a strikeout to end the game.
Pickens earned her second save of the season, tossing three scoreless innings while allowing one hit, walking three and striking out five.
DUE UP
Tennessee and Florida are back in action on Saturday for Game 2 of the series. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. ET on SECN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mardjetko, Sage (7-0)
L: K. Rothrock (16-2)
S: Pickens, Karlyn (2)
Batting:
2B: Knight, Sophia 1 ; Dodge, Ella 1
RBI: Dodge, Ella 1 ; Leach, Alannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knight, Sophia 1 ; Leach, Gabby 1
HBP: Holley, Taelyn 1
Batting:
HR: K. Cahalan 1
RBI: K. Cahalan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: K. Cahalan 1
SB: T. Thomas 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
UT
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSB | Karen Weekly Postgame at Florida (3.20.26)
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SB | Alannah Leach Postgame at Florida (3.20.26)
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SB | Sage Mardjetko Postgame at Florida (3.20.26)
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SB | Karen Weekly Press Conference (3.18.26)
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