Tennessee Softball Surges into Women’s College World Series Semifinals: Lady Vols’ Historic Run, Final Score & Must-See Highlights

Oklahoma City, Okla. — Tennessee softball is once again in the national spotlight as the No. 7 Lady Vols fight to extend their stay at the 2025 Women’s College World Series (WCWS). After navigating the Knoxville Regional and Super Regional with a 5-1 record, head coach Karen Weekly’s squad now faces elimination following a dramatic 4-2 seventh-inning loss to No. 9 UCLA on Saturday afternoon at Devon Park. Balanced roster built for deep runs • Power circle duo — Junior ace Karlyn Pickens struck out 21 batters over two complete-game Super Regional wins and owns a 1.89 ERA in the NCAA tournament. • Freshman firepower — Redshirt freshman Ella Dodge has blasted three postseason home runs, two coming off All-American Jordy Bahl, proving Tennessee’s order can punish elite pitching. • Veteran leadership — Fifth-year outfielder McKenna Gibson (.359, 15 HR) anchors an offense averaging 5.7 runs per game since May 1. Why the Lady Vols still control their WCWS destiny 1. Favorable bracket path: Tennessee avoids No. 1 seed Stanford and could advance by winning three straight against teams it has already beaten this season, starting with Sunday’s ABC-televised rematch versus the Bruins at 3 p.m. ET. 2. Proven against powerhouse programs: UT took a March series at then-No. 2 Oklahoma, one of only three visiting teams to win a set in Norman since 2007. 3. Bullpen depth: Sage Mardjetko and Payton Gottshall bring two different looks out of the pen, giving Weekly the matchup flexibility that’s critical in the double-elimination format. Key numbers to know • WCWS appearances: 9 (first since 2023). • All-time NCAA postseason record: 96-49. • Record vs. current WCWS field in 2025: 10-6. • Average time of game for Tennessee wins this postseason: 1 hr 58 min (quick tempo benefits pitching-first teams). What’s next & how to tune in • Sunday, June 1 — Tennessee vs. UCLA, 3 p.m. ET, ABC (stream: ESPN App). • If Tennessee advances, it plays the loser of Game 7 (Florida/Texas) Monday at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Full bracket, times and streaming links are updated in real time by the NCAA. Three storylines fans are searching for right now 1. Pickens vs. Grant round 2 — Bruins slugger Megan Grant’s controversial tying homer in the seventh inning Saturday sets up a must-see chess match between power pitcher and power bat. 2. Small-ball vs. long ball — Tennessee’s 32 sacrifice bunts rank second nationally, while UCLA leads the WCWS with 96 homers; whichever style prevails Sunday could dictate the rest of the tournament. 3. SEC legacy watch — With Alabama eliminated, the Lady Vols are the conference’s last hope to keep the SEC’s 11-year WCWS finals streak alive. Local impact & recruiting bump Sherri Parker Lee Stadium watch parties have drawn standing-room-only crowds, and Knoxville hotels report a 12 % occupancy uptick since the Regional opener. UT’s 2026 recruiting class already features five top-100 prospects; another deep run could cement a consensus top-5 haul. Bottom line The Lady Vols’ path to the championship finals may be narrow, but it remains navigable thanks to dominant pitching, clutch power and a bracket they believe is breaking their way. If Pickens finds her early-May groove and the bats stay hot, Tennessee softball could be booking its first WCWS finals appearance since 2013—and rewriting program history in the process.