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Tennessee Pitchers Karlyn Pickens and Erin Nuwer Among Top 25 in Whiff Rate

Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens and Erin Nuwer rank in the top 25 nationally in whiff percentage, according to Synergy Sports and 643charts.
Josh Greer|
Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws a pitch during a Women's College World Series softball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas Longhorns at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 2, 2025. Texas won 2-0.
Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (23) throws a pitch during a Women's College World Series softball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas Longhorns at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Monday, June 2, 2025. Texas won 2-0. | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tennessee Softball continues to set the standard for elite pitching on the national stage.

According to advanced analytics released by Synergy Sports and 643charts, Tennessee pitchers Karlyn Pickens and Erin Nuwer rank in the top 25 nationally in whiff percentage—a key metric for measuring swing-and-miss effectiveness. Pickens boasts a 33.1% whiff rate, while Nuwer comes in just behind at 30.1%, putting both players among the nation's most dominant strikeout artists.

These numbers speak to more than just raw power; they reflect command, deception, and the ability to miss barrels in the most critical moments of the game.

Pickens, a mainstay in the Lady Vols rotation, has long been known for her electric stuff and high ceiling as a strikeout pitcher. The junior has already made waves with her velocity and movement, but this new metric emphasizes just how difficult she is to square up.

Nuwer, on the other hand, has emerged as a valuable complement to Pickens. Her 30.1% whiff rate reinforces her impact in the circle, proving she can control games just as effectively. Together, they form one of the most statistically impressive one-two punches in college softball.

The synergy between these two arms gives Tennessee a distinct advantage in postseason play, where pitching depth and swing-and-miss stuff are often the deciding factors.

Advanced data is increasingly becoming a staple in collegiate softball, and these rankings showcase how the Lady Vols are not only embracing analytics but thriving within them.

As the offseason unfolds and 2026 looms, the dominance of Pickens and Nuwer in the circle signals that Tennessee’s championship window remains wide open.

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Josh Greer
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