See Tennessee Lady Vols softball vs Duke

On March 11, 2025, the No. 7 Tennessee Lady Volunteers edged out a 1-0 victory over the No. 16 Duke Blue Devils in a tightly contested softball game at Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. The game was marked by stellar pitching performances and a decisive early home run.

Early Action and Pivotal Play

The game’s only run came in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, Tennessee’s redshirt sophomore outfielder, Taylor Pannell, stepped up to the plate. She delivered a solo home run over the left-field fence off Duke’s graduate student pitcher, Dani Drogemuller, giving the Lady Vols an early 1-0 lead. citeturn0search2

Pitching Dominance

Tennessee’s sophomore pitcher, Karlyn Pickens, showcased exceptional skill throughout the game. She struck out 10 batters and allowed only two hits and two walks over seven innings, lowering her season ERA to 0.68. Pickens retired the side in order in the second, third, and fifth innings, demonstrating dominance and control. citeturn0search2

Duke’s pitchers, Drogemuller and junior Cassidy Curd, matched Pickens’ intensity. Drogemuller pitched four innings, conceding one run on three hits and recording three strikeouts. Curd relieved her in the fifth, striking out four batters over two innings and allowing one hit and one walk. citeturn0search0

Duke’s Scoring Opportunities

The Blue Devils had scoring chances but couldn’t capitalize. In the fourth inning, senior Ana Gold led off with a single, and a subsequent walk to Thessa Malau’ulu put two runners on base. However, a strikeout ended the threat. In the seventh, sophomore Amiah Burgess led off with a single and advanced to third base with one out. Pickens struck out the final two batters to preserve the shutout. citeturn0search0

Key Performances

• Taylor Pannell (Tennessee): Pannell’s first-inning home run was the game’s only score. She went 2-for-3 at the plate, marking her 10th home run of the season. citeturn0search2
• Karlyn Pickens (Tennessee): Pickens’ pitching was instrumental in the victory. She struck out 10 batters, allowed only two hits, and walked two, earning her seventh win of the season. citeturn0search2
• Amiah Burgess (Duke): Burgess extended her hitting streak to four games with a leadoff single in the seventh inning. She also reached base safely in eight consecutive games. citeturn0search0

Game Highlights

• Saviya Morgan’s diving catch in foul territory in the third inning was a defensive highlight for Tennessee. citeturn0search2
• The Lady Vols’ defense was flawless, retiring the side in order in multiple innings and making key plays to support Pickens’ pitching. citeturn0search2

Post-Game Outlook

With the win, Tennessee improved to a 22-4 record, while Duke fell to 17-8. The Lady Vols will host UConn for a three-game series from March 14-16, with all games broadcast on SECN+. Duke will return home to face Syracuse in a weekend series. citeturn0search2

For a player’s perspective on the win, you can watch Taylor Pannell’s reaction in the following interview:

videoLady Vols’ Taylor Pannell reacts to win over Duketurn0search6