NO SIR EEE
The Sultan Of Swat
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After three weeks on the road, the No. 1-ranked Lady Vols are set for their home-opening weekend as they play host to the Tennessee Invitational Feb. 27-March 1 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee (14-0) welcomes Appalachian State, Penn State and North Carolina Central to Rocky Top for the weekend.
BROADCAST INFO
All Tennessee games throughout the weekend will be available to stream on SEC Network+ or through the WatchESPN app. Michael Wottreng (play-by-play) will be on the call Friday and Saturday, with Jill Jelnick taking over Sunday. They will be joined in the broadcast booth by LVFL Rylie West (analyst).
Fans can also listen to Brian Rice and Charley Collier call the action via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App. Streaming, live stats, and radio links are available on the Tennessee softball schedule page at UTSports.com.
NOTABLE
RANKINGS
Tennessee enters Week 4 holding on to its unanimous No. 1 ranking across the NFCA, USA Softball, D1 and Softball America polls.
STARTING STRONG
At 14-0, Tennessee is off to its best start since also opening up 14-0 in 2014. With three more wins, the 2026 team could lay claim to the third-best start in program history, surpassing the 2005 squad that began 16-0. UT's best start to a season was in 2006 at 24-0.
MAGIC NUMBER
Since the beginning of the 2023 season, the Lady Vols' magic number has been three (3). Tennessee is 145-9 when scoring three or more runs over that span.
RING OF FIRE
The Lady Vols have adopted a staff approach to pitching since 2023 and this season is no different. Over the first three weekends, five different pitchers started in the circle - Mardjetko (5), Pickens (3), Nuwer (3), Rutan (2) and Hardenburger (1). Nuwer has made seven total appearances with Pickens appearing six times. The staff has combined for 116 strikeouts over 87 innings of work with an ERA of 0.32. They have allowed five runs in 14 games. Only the 2005 squad was better - allowing just two runs through 16 games.
SUSTAINED SUCCESS
Head coach Karen Weekly is now in her 25th season on Rocky Top with a record entering the weekend standing at 1,146-357-2. Her career win total (1,369-454-2) ranks third among active coaches and is eighth all-time in Division I collegiate softball history. Weekly is four wins away from moving into seventh place, passing Donna Papa (1,372).
SCOUTING APPALACHIAN STATE
Head Coach (Record at App State): Whitney Jones (33-29)
2026 Record: 11-2
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 11-0
Last Meeting: W, 8-0 (5), on 3/4/23
SCOUTING PENN STATE
Head Coach (Record at Penn State): Clarisa Crowell (143-121)
2026 Record: 13-2
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: W, 9-1 (5), on 2/10/07
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
Head Coach (Record at NC Central): Now-Allah Jones (14-45)
2026 Record: 1-12
Series Record: First Meeting
DUE UP
Tennessee continues its homestand with a Tuesday night showdown against Belmont on March 3 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.
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Nuwer gives up her first run, a dinger, to first batter.
