CLEARWATER, Fla. – Despite a strong 11-strikeout performance by junior pitcher Karlyn Pickens, the sixth-ranked Lady Vols fell to No. 19 Nebraska, 7-1, in Thursday’s season opener at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida.
 
Tennessee (0-1) managed five hits off Nebraska pitcher Jordy Bahl and scored the game’s opening run in the bottom of the fourth. With freshman Zoie Shuler pinch-running on second, senior Sophia Nugent hit a double to center field, scoring Shuler for her first career run as a Lady Vol.
 
Up 1-0 after four innings, the Lady Vols recorded two quick outs in the top of the fifth before a single, followed by an error, extended the frame. With runners on the corners, Tennessee suffered another error as an errant throw sailed into right field, allowing three unearned Nebraska runs to score.
 
A two-run home run extended the Huskers’ lead before Pickens struck out the final batter of the fifth inning.
 
Pickens faced one batter in the sixth before being relieved by sophomore pitcher Sage Mardjetko, making her Tennessee debut. Pickens finished the game allowing five runs—all unearned—on five hits, with 11 strikeouts over five innings of work.
 
Mardjetko completed the outing, allowing two runs on one hit, with two strikeouts and one walk.
 
Nebraska’s (1-0) Bahl tossed a complete game, surrendering one run on five hits while striking out seven.
 
DUE UP
Tennessee returns to action Friday, facing Bethune-Cookman at 4 p.m. ET and Iowa at 7 p.m. Both games will be streamed on the GameChanger app.