Tennessee Softball 2025

[Jax_Vol]

Yes but, we had nothing to loose if we walked her. We had two outs and we had a force at any base. All the odds are in favor of walking the batter, regardless of who she is unless their slugger, who had already hit a homer in the game, would be the batter. We had nothing to lose and everything to gain with a walk.

She was the winning run.

So, had that to lose.

 

[Tnphil]

Pound tech? They have the nation’s other premier ace. I’d think we have a better chance against Florida than TT.

TT pitcher is good.....and we can't hit. Not a good combination.

 

[508mikey]

I think Karlyn pitches again cause if we win we get the next day off so she could return against the next opponent. Would like to see us win at least one game in the tourney don't see that happening with anyone pitching but Karlyn.

KP really was bummed I hope she rebounds from the disappointment

 

[lvocd]

The HI2020 obviously points to pitching around the player who had already hit a home run against one of the top 3 pitchers in the country. If I were the Tennessee coach that would have been my decision. Let the kid who had NOT already proved she could hit a home run against Karlyn Pickens have to try to come through with some heroics. Chances were, IMO, better that we'd get the third out either by strikeout or ground ball force out if the bat were not in the hands of a gal who would come into the box absolutely KNOWING she can hit Karlyn today because she already had. Common sense, really.

All that said, if after a time out and long conversation in the circle it came out that Karlyn and Nugent felt super strongly about wanting to face Parker, then it would have been awfully difficult to deny the kids the right to play the game straight up if that's what they wanted to do.

It would have been a glorious way to win it, getting Parker for the final out. But it was a risk *I* would not have taken, considering Parker was obviously feeling confident. Coaches are paid to weigh all of the factors and then be the experienced adults on the field and make the call based on years and years of knowledge.

Obviously Karen wanted Karlyn to know she had utter confidence in HER, and felt it unlikely that Parker would go yard twice in one game. It was NOT a bad decision, IMO, to give Pickens that opportunity. She had earned the opportunity to do the hard thing there. I hate she couldn't do it yesterday, but like I said earlier, it felt so other-worldly unfair that there must be some good reason for someone that it had to happen that way. Maybe that person won't understand it until 20 years from now, but you never know.

I'm not giving up on this season. We can still win it!

 

[alexvol]

She was the winning run.

So, had that to lose.

And if you walk her it puts two runners in scoring position......

 

[M40]

And if you walk her it puts two runners in scoring position......

Exactly. Higher probability that Nelly singles/doubles than Ella Parker HR

 

[M40]

TT pitcher is good.....and we can't hit. Not a good combination.

Tech scored one run against Ole Miss. They have the same issue

 

[Jax_Vol]

And if you walk her it puts two runners in scoring position......

good point. There is also that.

Therefore, a good single or double by the # 3 hitter could have tied or won the game.

I'm ok with pitching to her. I happened to see that girl's second at bat, and KP made her look overwhelmed.

Admittedly, I'm less thrilled that she was offered up a 67-mph pitch in center of plate to deposit over fence.

Who knows...maybe it was a Greg Maddox attempt to throw a change low and away. Then bust her back on the hands with the heater.

Just beat those silly crocodile girls tonight.

 

[M40]

Start Sage with Pickens ready to come in.

 

[508mikey]

Start Sage with Pickens ready to come in.

I would let KP make the call - Weekly has made to many bad decisions already

 

[volsagain]

I have already forgotten how bracket works.

Win tonight and we cross over into the easy side full of lightweights?

No lite weights in the final 8 . Got to have your A-game every game. Still just one game at a time. GLV

 

[kregman]

And if you walk her it puts two runners in scoring position......

Well in softball if you are at first you are already in scoring position so there is that. Don’t let their best hitter beat you. If the next batter singles or walks guess what you are still tied or one run ahead.

 

[kregman]

Exactly. Higher probability that Nelly singles/doubles than Ella Parker HR

Be honest who would you rather have up? By the way you have been a good poster even if an OU fan.

 

[alexvol]

Well in softball if you are at first you are already in scoring position so there is that. Don’t let their best hitter beat you. If the next batter singles or walks guess what you are still tied or one run ahead.

We could debate that all day every day for the rest of eternity.....you have your opinion and i have mine ....never the twain shall meet.

 

[KTrain]

I believe they would have thrown out Mealer. Their defense is not average.

I thought they would throw her out also but with 1 out and the fact that Morgan was up hoping for a deep fly ball to score the run was not going to happen. That would be a reason to not send her with 1 out but after not sending her. A pinch hitter to get something to the outfield would have been one option.

 

[peachstatevolgirl]

Start Sage with Pickens ready to come in.

Yep. At this point, if their goal is to keep playing, rest Karlyn if we can. Sage has been good lately, and if we're considering who Florida (or any other team for that matter) has designated most of their film time to for hitting, it's Karlyn. Not to say they haven't studied Sage, but I would bet they're expecting and are more prepared for Karlyn.

 

[Volfan2012]

A lot more advantages to walking that batter than the other way around. .418 hitter versus .344 hitter, force at any base, much less homerun threat. Only negative is moving two runners into scoring position. I will take the three advantages over the one negative.

 

[M40]

Be honest who would you rather have up? By the way you have been a good poster even if an OU fan.

I’d rather have Parker up. Was trying to convince myself that your coach made the correct decision cause she is a very good coach I think.

With an elite pitcher you walk Parker and go after Nelly who had struggled.

Non - elite pitcher you probably don’t walk Parker cause Nelly has a good bat and can beat you with a double

 

[M40]

Yep. At this point, if their goal is to keep playing, rest Karlyn if we can. Sage has been good lately, and if we're considering who Florida (or any other team for that matter) has designated most of their film time to for hitting, it's Karlyn. Not to say they haven't studied Sage, but I would bet they're expecting and are more prepared for Karlyn.

Just keep Sage on a short leash ready to put Pickens in at any moment

 

[peachstatevolgirl]

Just keep Sage on a short leash ready to put Pickens in at any moment

You get it! Could also be HUGE experience under her belt. Look how far KP has come since her first WCWS appearance 2 years ago.

 

[GameTime]

If possible, don't pitch to other team's best hitter in critical situations....If circumstances won't let you pitch around their best hitter, don't give your opponent a good pitch to hit...

Truly, a lady or the tiger scenario...This time we got the tiger right in our face.

 

[ETNVolunteer1]

Just keep Sage on a short leash ready to put Pickens in at any moment

This is how I would handle tonight. Sage has played really well as of late so I’d let her start to try and give Karlyn some rest and give Sage some experience.

 

[lvocd]

And if you walk her it puts two runners in scoring position......

I understand that. But the chances of the next batter getting a hit to send both of those runners home, and then the batter after her getting another runner in for the win, would be far less than the one batter who’d already hit a home run getting another.

Anyone who has ever played, or even followed, diamond sports knows that batters get hot for games and tend to be able to get multiple hits once they get one.

Parker was the hot player. The batter after her was a lesser risk. IMO Karlyn was less likely to allow the two consecutive hits it probably would have taken to render having put Parker on backfire.

 

[Jax_Vol]

If possible, don't pitch to other team's best hitter in critical situations....If circumstances won't let you pitch around their best hitter, don't give your opponent a good pitch to hit...

Truly, a lady or the tiger scenario...This time we got the tiger right in our face.

Exactly!

Didn't watch the post-game interview but guessing they didn't intentionally plan to hang a 67-mph straight pitch, belt high, right out over juicy part of the plate.

Life happens.

 

[Jax_Vol]

I understand that. But the chances of the next batter getting a hit to send both of those runners home, and then the batter after her getting another runner in for the win, would be far less than the one batter who’d already hit a home run getting another.

Anyone who has ever played, or even followed, diamond sports knows that batters get hot for games and tend to be able to get multiple hits once they get one.

Parker was the hot player. The batter after her was a lesser risk. IMO Karlyn was less likely to allow the two consecutive hits it probably would have taken to render having put Parker on backfire.

I do see your point. It would have taken a gutsy coach to call for that with the game KP was pitching.

Might have been a handful try it, but not me.

The odds still say pitch to her; perhaps with a mix of things around the knees.

If there had been an open base, then I would have walked her intentionally.