CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The fifth-ranked Lady Vols run-ruled Minnesota 9-1 in five innings on Saturday to close out their run at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California.

Redshirt sophomore Taylor Pannell and senior Kinsey Fiedler led the offense in the victory. Pannell went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and a home run, her seventh of the season. A triple shy of the cycle, Pannell hit two doubles (in the first and fifth innings), a home run in the second, and singled in the third.

Fiedler went 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs. The Lee’s Summit, Missouri, native had a strong weekend, going 9-for-16 (.563) with six runs, a triple, and eight RBIs.

Karlyn Pickens earned the start in the circle, tossing a five-inning complete game. She allowed one run on three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. The junior is now 4-2 on the season.

Pickens carried a no-hitter through 3.1 innings before Minnesota broke through with a double to right. The Gophers drew a walk to put two runners, but Pickens responded with back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.

Tennessee (13-3) jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first and three more in the second before Minnesota scored its lone run in the fourth.

The Lady Vols clinched the run-rule win with two runs in the fifth. It marked UT’s 10th run-rule victory in 16 games this season.

Hot Start
Freshman Saviya Morgan extended her hit streak to 10 games on Saturday. She scored her team-leading 24th run and stole her 13th base. Morgan also ranks second on the squad with a .477 batting average after her first 16 collegiate games.

Due Up
Tennessee returns to Knoxville for its home opener against Radford on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The Lady Vols will then play host to the Tennessee Invitational from Feb. 28 to March 2, with Delaware State, Indiana State, and UT-Martin visiting for the tournament.