Softball On SI

Big Blow for Tennessee Softball as Infielder Taylor Pannell Enters the Portal

Allison Smith|
Tennessee's Taylor Pannell (3) celebrates a home run in the 5th inning of the Women's College World Series softball game between the UCLA Bruins and the Tennessee Volunteers at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Sunday, June, 1, 2025.
Tennessee's Taylor Pannell (3) celebrates a home run in the 5th inning of the Women's College World Series softball game between the UCLA Bruins and the Tennessee Volunteers at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Sunday, June, 1, 2025. | SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tennessee Softball redshirt sophomore corner Taylor Pannell has entered the transfer portal with a do not contact tag.

For the Lady Vol offense, this is a huge blow, as Pannell had an outstanding year at the plate, including a 3-for-4 day in game one of the WCWS against No. 2 Oklahoma.

Pannell is a two-time All-SEC First Team selection (2024 & 2025) and ranked No. 11 this season in the SEC with a .398 batting average, including 16 home runs, 13 doubles, and 65 RBIs.

Additionally, Pannell ranked in the top 15 in almost every other offensive SEC category including tied for No. 13 for runs scored (56) and on base percentage (.493), no. 12 for slugging percentage with .747, tied for ninth in hits with Oklahoma's Ella Parker with 74, and No. 5 with 139 total bases.

Pannell equalizes her presence at the plate with her presence on the infield as she has only made nine errors during her career at Tennessee and flashed a .957 fielding percentage.

There is no doubt that whatever team is able to get Pannell out of the portal is snagging an offensive gem that will immediately make an impact on a roster.

More News: Texas Tech Softball Bolsters Roster With 4 Major Transfer Portal Additions

More News: 2024 Missouri Valley Conference MVP Jackie Lis Transfers to Texas Tech Softball

More News: Duke Softball Coach Marissa Young's Daughter Enters Transfer Portal

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Allison Smith
ALLISON SMITH

Allison Smith is an expert in leadership and organizational behavior in collegiate and professional women’s sports. Smith is a professor (Georgia State University), researcher, and writer. Smith holds a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee in Kinesiology and Sport Studies. Smith’s research centers on combatting the underrepresentation of women leaders in sport, lack of organizational structure for work life integration for sport employees, and lack of programming and oversight for preparing athletes to transition to life after sport. Since graduating with a bachelor’s in journalism in 2011, Smith has sought opportunities to write about sports as a contributing writer focused on the growth of women’s collegiate, Olympic, and professional sports in this new age and movement for multiple outlets including Athletic Director U, and now Forbes.com. As a former Division I and II pitcher and Division III pitching coach Smith will bring unique insight and expertise to Softball on SI.

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