Lady Vols Drop to No. 4 After Series Loss to Florida

Image: Ryan Beatty/Tennessee Athletics

By Aidan Sidoti

The Lady Vols finally proved to be human over the weekend, slipping from No. 1 to No. 4 in the latest Softball America rankings after dropping 2 out of 3 to now No. 3 Florida at Katie Seashole Stadium. Tennessee’s offense struggled mightily throughout the series, managing just six total runs across all three games.

Tennessee opened the weekend with a gritty 2-1 win on Friday, leaning heavily on its dominant pitching duo of Sage Mardjetko and Karlyn Pickens. The pair combined for 12 strikeouts while allowing only four hits. Alannah Leach delivered the decisive blow with a game‑winning RBI single in the fifth. 

Saturday told quite a different story.

The Lady Vols recorded only four hits, and Pickens suffered her first loss of the season, giving up three runs in just one inning of work. Florida’s Olivia Miller was outstanding in relief, throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings behind starter Katelynn Oxley. Tennessee briefly led after Elsa Morrison’s two‑run homer in the second, but the Gators stormed back immediately to take a 5-2 win.

Sunday’s rubber match mirrored Saturday’s frustrations. Florida built a 3-0 lead through five innings, with Taylor Schumaker driving in a pair of runs to put the Gators in control early. Tennessee finally got on the board in the sixth with a Gabby Leach home run, but that was the only offense the Lady Vols could materialize, dropping the series finale and the weekend set.

Tennessee will be back out on the diamond Tuesday night, facing in-state foe Tennessee Tech at home at 6 p.m. ET airing on SEC Network+.