Lady Vols Punch Ticket to OKC After 2-1 Win Over No. 10 Georgia

Image: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

By Aidan Sidoti

KNOXVILLE – For the first time in nearly 20 years, No. 7 overall seed Tennessee softball is headed to the Women’s College World Series for the second consecutive season after a 2-1 win over No. 10 Georgia in Game 2 of the Knoxville Super Regional.

Junior Sophia Knight delivered the decisive swing in the top of the second inning, launching a two-run home run over the right field wall. Knight homered in both games of the Knoxville Super Regional after entering the weekend without a single home run this season.

Sophomore right-hander Erin Nuwer started the game for Tennessee before junior Sage Mardjetko entered in the bottom of the second after Nuwer hit a pair of Georgia batters. Mardjetko was dominant out of the bullpen, escaping a second inning jam with runners on first and second by striking out back-to-back Bulldogs to end the threat.

The Lemont (Ill.) native finished with 9 strikeouts across 5.2 innings, allowing 1 run and walking 2 as she helped carry the Lady Vols to their 10th WCWS appearance in program history.

Tennessee will face the winner of No. 2 overall seed Texas or unranked Arizona State in the opening round in Oklahoma City. The Longhorns swept the Austin Regional, while the Sun Devils upset No. 15 overall seed Texas A&M in the College Station Regional. Their Super Regional series begins tonight in Austin with first pitch at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.