KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (TVC)–Karlyn Pickens shined against Alabama, as Tennessee won 4-1 to take the series. In her final regular season home game as a Lady Vol, Pickens recorded 11 strikeouts, no walks, and only one earned run coming in relief of Erin Nuwer after two innings.

“Karlyn pitched like Karlyn tonight. Right when she threw that first changeup and just nailed it,” Coach Karen Weekly said after the game. “Nailed the speed, nailed the location, got the batter off time, I was like okay, this is the night we’re back to Karlyn.”

What looked like a pitcher’s duel throughout the first few innings changed in the fourth, as the Lady Vols broke through the second time through the order, scoring three runs after being shut out by Alabama pitcher Jocelyn Briski through the first three innings.

Ella Dodge reached on a pop up down the left field line that was dropped for an error, and she was able to score on an Emma Clarke RBI double. Clarke then scored on a single from Taelyn Holley, who was brought home on a sacrifice fly from Alannah Leach.

The Lady Vols would extend their lead in the 5th with another RBI knock from Holley to drive in Bella Faw.

The only run for the Crimson Tide came off a solo shot from Mari Hubbard, but Pickens regained her rhythm by striking out the last three batters to end the game.

“We just told ourselves today that we were just gonna play with joy, play for each other, and just stick to our core values and that’s what we dedicated today to,” Pickens said after the game.

The Lady Vols will face Missouri on the road this weekend to finish out their regular season. Their three-game series is slated to open Thursday night at 7 PM.