Tennessee defeats LSU 3-0, wins first home series vs Tigers since 2018
A shutout defensive performance and a three-run sixth inning helped Tennessee‘s softball team surge past LSU on Sunday, defeating the Tigers 3-0 to come out on top in the series this weekend. Securing their first series win over LSU in Knoxville in six years.
Sophomore pitcher Karlyn Pickens got the start for the Volunteers and delivered, pitching six scoreless innings where she struck out seven batters and allowed just four hits on the day. Pushing her strikeout total 171 on the season with a 1.07 ERA before Bowling Green transfer Payton Gottshall pitched the final inning of the game to secure the save. Striking out two batters in 18 pitches to seal the deal at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on Sunday.
Like Pickens, LSU ace Sydney Berzon pitched five scoreless innings to start the game before finding herself with the bases loaded at the bottom of the sixth with two outs. That’s when Vols catcher Giulia Koutsoyanopulos hit a two-RBI double off the right field wall to help Tennessee take a 2-0 lead. Which was followed by an RBI single from outfielder Gabby Leach to push the score to 3-0.
The win pushed Tennessee’s record to 34-8 on the season and 14-4 in conference play to remain atop the SEC standings. Also playing a crucial role in NCAA Tournament seeding for the No. 4 ranked Vols with a series win over No. 7 LSU. Meanwhile, LSU drops their third SEC series in a row, falling to a to 35-10 record (11-10 in the SEC) following series losses to Auburn and Florida.
Next up the Volunteers face Belmont on Tuesday in their final non-conference game of the season before hitting the road for a series against Alabama in Tuscaloosa that starts on Friday. While the Tigers will visit Louisiana on Tuesday before hosting Arkansas this upcoming weekend.
Beth Torina reacts to becoming LSU’s all-time winningest coach
The Volunteers may have won Friday and Sunday’s matchups this weekend to win the series, but LSU’s 1-0 win on Saturday made Tigers’ head coach Beth Torina the winningest coach in program history. Which she spoke about following Saturday’s victory.
“What a cool thing, man,” Torina said. “Doing it with Howard [Dobson] the whole way by my side. Lindsay [Leftwich] was here for most of them. But now, Bryce [Neal] and Quinlan [Duhon] with me. There’s so many people that contributed to this and so many women that gave their heart and soul for LSU.”