Lady Vols Set for WCWS Showdown With No. 2 Texas
Image: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
By Aidan Sidoti
OKLAHOMA CITY – After sweeping the Knoxville Super Regional with back-to-back wins over No. 10 Georgia at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, the Lady Vols (47-10, 16-8 SEC) open their quest for the program’s first national championship this afternoon against No. 2 Texas (47-11, 16-8 SEC) in Oklahoma City. It will be the first meeting of the season between the two SEC foes.
Texas arrives in Oklahoma City after a turbulent Austin Super Regional. The Longhorns dropped Game 1 to unseeded Arizona State before rallying for a 4-3 comeback win in Game 2 and then taking the decisive Game 3 with a 5-0 shutout behind a complete game gem from ace Tegan Kavan. The defending national champions enter the Women’s College World Series looking to secure back-to-back titles after defeating Texas Tech last year in OKC.
Tennessee enters the week playing some of its best softball of the season, riding momentum from a dominant Super Regional showing and leaning on the pitching duo of First Team All-Americans Karlyn Pickens and Sage Mardjetko along with an offense that has been sufficient enough through postseason play.
First pitch between Tennessee and Texas is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN as the Lady Vols hope to avoid the loser’s bracket.
