Tennessee’s Pickens and Mardjetko Earn D1Softball First Team All-America Honors

Images: Tennessee Athletics

By Aidan Sidoti
KNOXVILLE – Lady Vols ace pitchers Karlyn Pickens and Sage Mardjetko were named D1Softball First Team All-Americans, announced Tuesday morning.

Pickens, a native of Weaverville (Nc.), earned her fourth career D1Softball All-America honor, receiving recognition in all four seasons on Rocky Top. The No. 1 pick to the Carolina Blaze in the 2026 AUSL Draft has delivered another dominant year while helping lead Tennessee to-back to-back Women’s College World Series appearances. During her senior campaign, Pickens holds a 15-7 record with a 1.53 ERA and 180 strikeouts across 31 appearances. The two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year struck out 10 against No. 10 Georgia in the Knoxville Super Regional in a complete game performance, allowing just 1 run across 7 innings to secure a Game 1 win.

Mardjetko, a junior from Lemont (Ill.), has produced her best season on Rocky Top. The 5-foot-11 right-hander holds a 14-2 record with a career best 1.12 ERA in 28 appearances. She has recorded a career high 165 strikeouts across 119 innings and posted a 6-1 record with a 1.07 ERA during SEC play. In Game 2 of the Knoxville Super Regional, Mardjetko entered in the second inning and was dominant out of the bullpen, escaping a jam with runners on first and second by striking out back-to-back Bulldogs. She finished with 9 strikeouts across 5.2 innings, allowing 1 run and walking 2 as she helped send Tennessee to its 10th WCWS appearance.

No. 7 Tennessee will face No. 2 overall seed Texas to open the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.