Tennessee (49-12) was eliminated in the College World Series semifinals on Monday against Texas (51-12).
The Lady Vols lost Game 1, 5-2, and Game 2, 4-0, in a doubleheader at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
In Game 2, senior Karlyn Pickens (15-8) started for Tennessee and pitched a complete game in six innings. She totaled 93 pitches, including 59 strikes, and six strikeouts against 26 batters. Pickens allowed seven hits, four runs (four earned) and three walks.
She met with media after the game and discussed her collegiate career ending.
Everything Karlyn Pickens said after season-ending loss in College World Series
What does it mean to you to look back and see the impact that you had for this program?
“Just my four years here have been nothing but just amazing. I’ve enjoyed my experience so much. I’ve been a part of four amazing group of girls, and I think that’s kind of the hardest part of walking away from it is just the bonds we have with this team and teams of past and stuff like that. I’m thankful to have been able to be a part of this program, to be able to put on this uniform and fight for the Lady Vols and my team.”
Your softball career will continue in the AUSL, but what has the Tennessee program given you over the past four years?
“Oh, gosh, given me so many things, I can’t even name them all. I’m just so grateful for my coaches, my teammates, just all the support staff, all the relationships I’ve made here at Tennessee. It’s given me a platform to play the sport I love with the people I love and do so with just so much joy and fun. I’ve soaked in and loved every single moment of it, and I’m very excited that my playing days aren’t over, but it’s definitely the end of a chapter. It sucks that I won’t get to put on this uniform again, but I’m just so grateful for all the experience I’ve had.”
We always talk about veterans that you had growing up, but what was it like for Sage Mardjetko and Erin Nuwer this year and beyond?
“I remember my freshman year having Ashley Rogers, Kiki Malloy, Riley West, just to name a few. They were so helpful for me growing into just a young woman and also in the sport as well. Being able to be that for some of the younger girls on our team has definitely been awesome. We have such an amazing bond on our pitching staff. We just all love each other so much, and we just laugh about the funniest things. It’s just such a great relationship that we have, so to be able to hopefully leave a positive mark on them, it’s been special.”
What is it like for you to have such a strong pitching staff and how does that help your game?
“It helps my game tremendously. Just having so many arms that we can go to and have so much confidence and trust in one another. Then it also forces the team for preparing purposes for who they’re going to prepare for. I think it just allows us all to go out and be confident knowing that teams aren’t just selling out for one player, but that we also just trust each other.”
Most of this team is eligible to return, the pitching staff is, what is your message to them as they go into the offseason?
“I would say just to continue to be them, be confident, play with joy, and just win it next year.”
Your college career is over, but what does it mean to you in potentially being able to come back here representing the USA with the Olympics in 2028?
“It’s super special. It’s definitely been a dream of mine, and I would love to mark that off the bucket list for sure. The sport of softball on its own has done so much for me and grown in so many amazing ways. Just to be able to be part of that and be part of the growth of the sport is super special. I just love this game. I love everything about it.”
Were you dealing with any issues with sweat or keeping your hands dry? You were also in the bullpen during Game 1 staying warm. What was it like watching from the bullpen and trying to keep yourself ready and knowing that Game 2 was maybe on the horizon for you?
“Definitely was a little sweaty out there. Keeping the hand dry kind of was in the back of my mind. Yeah, we tried to fix that as best we could, just using rosin, all that stuff. Then the first game, just staying ready. Never know when you might go into a game. Yeah, that’s my job. It’s not my job to decide when I go in, so just stay ready.”
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens recaps College World Series loss