KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On Tuesday, Tennessee softball head coach Karen Weekly announced the signing of former South Carolina Gamecock pitcher Sage Mardjetko (mar-JET-ko).
 
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Sage and her family into our Lady Vol softball family,” Weekly said. “Sage possesses an incredible drive to compete and become the best version of herself, both on and off the field. Her ability to command several different pitches and speeds is rare in this game. Sage is also an exceptional student with ambitious academic and career goals. She is a perfect fit for our team culture and values.”
 
A rising sophomore, Mardjetko went 8-9 with a 2.85 ERA for South Carolina in 2024. The right-hander made 34 appearances with 17 starts as a rookie, tossing 118 innings. A Lemont, Illinois, native, she recorded 119 strikeouts last season.
 
Mardjtko also notched three saves and threw three complete games as she helped guide South Carolina to the NCAA Tournament.
 
A highly touted prospect out of high school, she was named the 2023 USA TODAY High School Sports Awards National Softball Player of the Year. As a junior and senior at Lemont High School, Mardjetko was tabbed the Illinois Softball Gatorade Player of the Year.
 
During her high school career, Mardjetko threw 32 no-hitters and five perfect games – leading Lemont to back-to-back Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 3A state championships (2022 and 2023).
 
In 2023, she finished with a 23-0 record and a 0.00 ERA, leading her team to a 35-1 record, with 340 strikeouts, while allowing just 18 hits and 21 walks in 143.1 innings. She became only the second pitcher in IHSA history to finish a season with a 0.00 ERA (min. 70 innings).