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Pickens leads Tennessee Back to WCWS with dominant shutout

by: Tara Henry05/25/25
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Photo courtesy of Tennessee Athletics

For the third consecutive day, it was Karlyn Pickens versus Jordy Bahl in the circle — and once again, Pickens delivered in a big way.

The junior ace tossed a complete-game shutout, striking out 10 and leading the Lady Vols back to the Women’s College World Series with a 1-0 win. Backed by stellar defense and just enough offense, Tennessee punched its ticket to Oklahoma City.

The tone was set early, beginning with Pickens striking out Bahl to open the game. Ella Dodge followed with a diving stop up the middle for the second out, and Alannah Leach ended the inning by gunning down Ava Kuszak at second base, turning a potential double into a statement out.

Dodge, who had been clutch all series, gave Tennessee the early lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the first. Initially ruled a live ball, the call was challenged and overturned after video review confirmed it had cleared the fence.

In the fourth, Alannah Leach singled and Emma Clarke reached on Nebraska’s second error of the game, putting runners on first and second. Tennessee threatened, but Bahl was able to escape without damage.

Nebraska’s best chance came in the top of the fifth. Lauren Camenzind beat the shift with a shot down the third-base line and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Pickens struck out Emmerson Cope, Bella Bacon was hit by a pitch. A second wild pitch put both runners in scoring position. After striking out Abbie Squier, Pickens walked Ava Bredwell to load the bases for Lauren Camenzind. With the bases loaded, Pickens fired three straight strikes to fan Camenzind and end the threat.

Gabby Leach tried to add insurance in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff single and stolen base. But Bahl responded with back-to-back strikeouts of Dodge and McKenna Gibson to keep it a one-run game.

The Huskers went down in order in the sixth, and Bahl returned the favor in the bottom half by retiring the Lady Vols 1-2-3.

Before the seventh, Pickens briefly headed to the bullpen with pitching coach Megan Rhodes Smith to stay loose. Whatever adjustments were made worked — Pickens came back out and shut the door, inducing two groundouts and a foul pop to seal the win.

Tennessee returns to Oklahoma City, anchored by Pickens’ and a defense that rose to the moment.

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