Karlyn Pickens made certain the No. 7 Tennessee softball team avoided being swept by No. 16 Arkansas on Monday night in Knoxville, Tenn.
Pickens threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings in relief and the Lady Volunteers won 3-2 to salvage a game against the Razorbacks at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
All scoring came in the first inning.
Arkansas (23-7, 3-6 SEC) went ahead 2-0 on a 2-out, 2-run homer by Bri Ellis in the top of the first, but the Lady Vols scored 3 runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.
The loss snapped a 3-game winning streak for the Razorbacks, who handed Tennessee (27-6, 3-3) its first home conference series loss since 2022.
Pickens (11-4) bounced back from losing 6-3 in an 8-inning pitcher’s duel Saturday against Robyn Herron in Game 1. She gave up no hits, struck out 6 and walked 2 of the 16 batters she faced.
Ellis homered off Tennessee starter Sage Mardjetko to straight away center. It cleared the wall about 1 foot over the outstretched glove of Lady Vols center fielder Saviya Morgan.
It was the nation-leading 17th home run for Ellis, who is having an All-America caliber season. With at least 21 games remaining, her home run total is tied for seventh in program history and is 8 shy of tying Braxton Burnside’s record of 25 set in 2021.
Arkansas freshman right-hander Cam Harrison (3-1) ran into trouble finding a tight strike zone in her start. Tennessee loaded the bases with a leadoff single and 2 walks before she recorded her first out.
Lady Vols catcher Sophia Nugent brought a run home with a sacrifice fly and shortstop Laura Mealer gave them a 3-2 lead with a 2-run double to right field. It was their first lead of the series.
Harrison was replaced by junior right-hander Reis Beuerlein, who was strong in a 5 1/3-inning, scoreless, hitless relief appearance. It was the longest outing for Beuerlein this season.
Beuerlein was mixing her speeds well and causing a lot of swings and misses with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks against 19 batters faced. She threw 53 of 84 pitches for strikes.
Arkansas had no answer at the plate for Pickens, though, as she retired the Razorbacks in order twice. Pickens also set a college softball record for the highest velocity recorded on a 78.2 mph ball that landed in the backstop while pitching against Ellis in the sixth.
The Razorbacks threatened with 2 outs in the top of the seventh when Karlie Davison reached on a fielding error and Kennedy Miller walked. But the game ended with Reagan Johnson striking out swinging.
Arkansas outhit the Lady Vols 3-2, but each team stranded 5 runners. Ella McDowell, Wyckoff and Ellis all recorded a hit for the Razorbacks.
The Razorbacks are scheduled to play Game 1 of a series against Kentucky on Friday at 6 p.m. in Fayetteville.