Tennessee softball is moving on to the super regional stage as one of the final 16 teams remaining.
The Lady Vols beat Ohio State 5-0 on Sunday afternoon to notch three-straight appearances in supers.
No. 7 overall seed Tennessee went 3-0 in Knoxville Regional with wins over Miami (OH) and two against the Buckeyes to move on.
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In the third and final game of the regional, the Lady Vols gave the ball to Sage Mardjetko to start. She was brilliant, throwing five shutout innings befor giving the ball to ace Karlyn Pickens.
In relief, Pickens threw two frames after starting the two previous games on back-to-back days. She struck out four and did not allow a hit.
At the plate, Sophia Nugent and Gabby Leach both went yard to help put up the deciding run total.
WHAT HAPPENED
It was a slow start dominated by both pitchers. Tennessee managed its first hit in the second inning, but wouldn't get a runner in scoring position until the fourth.
However, the Lady Vols stranded Saviya Morgan at third despite her lead-off double.
For Ohio State, it got a runner on through a hit or walk in four of the first five innings. Mardjetko limited all damage, though, to keep the Buckeyes off the board.
It was in the sixth inning when Tennessee began to build its lead. The Lady Vols used a Nugent home run to score the first two runs of the game. Laura Mealer followed it up with a double to score a third run.
In the top of the seventh, Tennessee added on. As the designated away team despite playing in their own park, the Lady Vols put up another pair of insurance runs on a Leach solo shot and RBI single from Morgan.
Pickens threw in the sixth and seventh frames to shut down Ohio State and claim a win.
UP NEXT
Next weekend, Tennessee will host the Knoxville Super Regional. The best-of-three series played at the Lady Vols' home field will send the winner to the Women's College World Series as one of the final eight teams remaining.
Tennessee will play either Nebraska or Southeastern Louisiana. The Huskers will need to win one of two to advance while SE Louisana will need to win two-straight.
The first game of that set will be played at 3 p.m. ET in Baton Rouge. LSU was the No. 10 overall seed, but were upset to already be eliminated.
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