KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 9 Tennessee Softball secured a major top-ten win against No. 11 Clemson on Tuesday afternoon in South Carolina. Junior catcher Sophia Nugent hit an RBI double in extra innings to give Tennessee a 2-1 victory.
So far this season, Nugent is making a name for herself on the team. She has started in 16 games, sits second on the team for RBIs, and has already hit three homers.
Senior Kiki Milloy was the only other Lady Vol with an RBI in the game. Her double down right field scored in Taylor Pannell to put UT on the board first in the third, 1-0.
Karlyn Pickens entered the game in relief for graduate student Payton Gottshall to pitch the bottom of the fourth. Clemson tied up the game in the inning to make it a 1-1 game.
The fifth inning is when Pickens found her rhythm. The sophomore sent Clemson down in order, ending the frame with a seven-pitch strikeout.
After Nugent's double and with Pickens on the mound, the Tigers couldn't put a single runner on base in the bottom of the ninth.
Pickens struck out four Tigers and only allowed three hits in six innings of work. She got the win against Clemson for the second time in her career. Last season, she dealt a shutout in UT's 1-0 win over the Tigers.
Next up, Tennessee plays Missouri State at home in the Tennessee Invitational on Friday, March 8. The first pitch is at 3 p.m.
