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Tennessee Evens Series with Nebraska Softball in Knoxville Super Regional

The Huskers and Vols will play a decisive game three Sunday to determine who will go to the Women's College World Series and who will see their season end.
Kaleb Henry|
From left Tennessee catcher Sophia Nugent (7), Tennessee utility player Ella Dodge (25), Tennessee outfielder Taylor Pannell (3), and Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) celebrate after winning an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 24, 2025. Tennessee defeated Nebraska.
From left Tennessee catcher Sophia Nugent (7), Tennessee utility player Ella Dodge (25), Tennessee outfielder Taylor Pannell (3), and Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) celebrate after winning an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 24, 2025. Tennessee defeated Nebraska. | Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Knoxville Super Regional series is all knotted up.

No. 7 national seed Tennessee took game two of the series over Nebraska Saturday afternoon, 3-2. The Vols improve to 44-15 while the Huskers fall to 43-14.

The best-of-three series is now tied 1-1.

Tennessee struck first in the top of the first inning, getting a two run homer from Ella Dodge. In the bottom of the frame, Hannah Camenzind singled to score both Samantha Bland and Jordy Bahl.

Both Bahl and Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens were dominant over the final six innings. The Vols got to Bahl for a go-ahead run in the third, but neither surrendered anything the rest of the game.

The Huskers did threaten in the bottom of the seventh, though. After Bella Bacon singled, Kennadi Williams came on as the pinch runner.

With two outs, Emmerson Cope stepped into the box as the pinch hitter. One of the pitches made its way to the backstop, but Williams did not advance to second. Cope eventually knocked a single down the right field line, sending Williams around to third.

Nebraska celebrates a double play during an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska.
Nebraska celebrates a double play during an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 24, 2025. Tennessee defeated Nebraska. | Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With runners on second and third, Ava Bredwell flied out to center field to end the game.

Pickens allowed two runs on five hits, walking one and striking out 11. Bahl allowed three runs on four hits, walking two and striking out six.

Nebraska and Tennessee will play a winner-take-all game Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CDT on either ESPN.

Nebraska pitcher/utility player Jordyn Bahl (98) slides safely into third base during an NCAA super regional game.
Nebraska pitcher/utility player Jordyn Bahl (98) slides safely into third base during an NCAA super regional game between Tennessee and Nebraska at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on May 24, 2025. Tennessee defeated Nebraska. | Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Postgame Notes

  • The Huskers moved to 69-57 all-time in NCAA Tournament games and 3-4 in Super Regional matchups.
  • Nebraska will play in a winner-take-all third Super Regional game for the second time in program history. In 2013, the Huskers won the deciding game at Oregon to win the super regional.

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Kaleb Henry
KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. 

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