Former Lady Vol Ace Karlyn Pickens Throws Complete Game in AUSL Debut
Image: Drew Garrison/Tennessee Athletics
By Aidan Sidoti
DURHAM – Former Lady Vol ace and No. 1 overall pick Karlyn Pickens made her professional debut Wednesday night, and absolutely nobody was surprised by the result. The Weaverville (NC) native opened her AUSL career in her home state and delivered a complete game in the Carolina Blaze’s 11-2 run-rule win over the Portland Cascade. Pickens went 5 innings, allowed 2 earned runs and struck out 5, picking up right where she left off in Knoxville.
Pickens spent four seasons with the Lady Vols and earned D1Softball All-America honors in each of them. She helped lead Tennessee to three Women’s College World Series appearances and turned in another dominant senior campaign, posting a 15-8 record with a 1.70 ERA and 194 strikeouts across 34 outings.
The two time SEC Pitcher of the Year also holds the fastest recorded pitch in softball history at 79.4 miles per hour. Now in the professional ranks, Pickens looks poised to continue the same dominance that defined her Tennessee career.
