Tennessee’s women’s softball and men’s baseball are going in opposite directions.
The men lost their first two games in the NCAA baseball regional in Chapel Hill and are home for the next few months.
The Lady Vols have earned two dramatic victories over Texas teams and are in the semifinals of the winners’ bracket in the Women’s College World Series.
Karen Weekly’s softball team advanced with a 2-1 ninth-inning walk-off win over Texas Tech on Saturday in Oklahoma City. Emma Clarke set off a celebration with a home run into the center field bleachers. Tennessee’s other run came in the fifth on a homer by Taelyn Holley.
Tech got a run in the seventh. Alannah Leach made a diving catch in left field to end the inning and keep the score 1-1.
Sage Mardejetku was the winning pitcher with seven outs of scoreless relief. Karlyn Pickens started and pitched 6.2 innings. She gave up the one run on five hits.
Sage’s record is 16-2 for the season. The team is 49-10.
“What a game! Classic old-school pitchers’ duel,” said Coach Weekly. “I’m just so proud of what our team did.”
The Lady Vols will next play on Monday against the winner of Sunday’s game between Texas and Nebraska – noon start, ESPN. Tennessee upset Texas 6-3 on Thursday in an opening round game.
Catcher Stone Lawless #27 defends home plate from a VCU Ram during 2026 NCAA Regional game at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. ( Photo By Elliot Walker/ Tennessee Athletics)
Josh Elander’s baseball team lost, 7-3 in 14 innings, to East Carolina in Chapel Hill on Friday and 5-4 to Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday. The Vols, plagued by bullpen problems and inconsistent hitting, finished 39-22 and 16-16 against Southeastern Conference foes.
Elander will now focus on the upcoming transfer portal and possible changes to his coaching staff.
The head coach got a ringing endorsement from veteran outfielder Reese Chapman: “He wants to win just as bad as we want to win. I have full faith in this program. It’s going to be right back at the top. That’s all Vol Nation needs to hear is that we have this guy (Elander) in our corner.”
