No. 7 Tennessee softball (25-4, 2-1 SEC) got a week off from SEC play after winning its opening series vs. Georgia last week.

This time, it was an out-of-conference clash with No. 16 Duke before a series with UConn.

Here's what happened.

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In a top-20 showdown in Knoxville, it was a complete pitching duel. With Karyln Pickens in the circle for Tennessee, the Lady Vols won that matchup.

Pickens threw a complete game shutout against Duke while striking out 10 of the 25 batters she faced. Just four got on base.

On the other side, Tennessee used four hits to push across one run. That was a Taylor Pannell homer in the first inning.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Karlyn Pickens - 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K, 98 NP

Due to future weather, Tennessee decided to start its series with UConn with a Friday double-header. In the first game, the Lady Vols didn't have much of an issue getting past the Huskies.

Tennessee once again let Pickens go the distance in the five-inning run-rule victory. She allowed one run this time but slammed the door shut on any hint of a comeback.

On offense, the Lady Vols used Pannell and Laura Mealer homers to put up their runs. Kinsey Fielder also had a great game, going 3-for-3 with three RBI.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Kinsey Fielder - 3 AB, 1 R, 3 H, 3 RBI

Game two didn't go as smoothly. This time, it took 10 innings for Tennessee to get a deciding walk-off hit.

This came off the bat of Mealer. Her single in the 10th pushed across the winning run. It almost didn't get to this point, either. The Lady Vols used a McKenna Gibson sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh to force extras.

Sage Mardjetko got the start in the circle, going four frames and allowing one run. Then, PIckens took over for the final six where she earned the win while allowing just one earned run to cross.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Laura Mealer - 5 AB, 0 R, 3 H, 1 RBI, walk-off single

With a day off, Tennessee used the rest to complete the sweep over UConn on Sunday. This time, it was late offense from both sides.

Heading into the fifth, it was still a 0-0 game. The Huskies took a 1-0 lead in the frame before the Lady Vols put up a three-spot. UConn put on two more in the sixth but Tennessee got the lead back and the insurance with another three-run inning.

This came on home runs by Fielder and Gibson. Pickens got the day off in the circle with Erin Nuwer and Mardjetko combining for three earned runs in seven innings pitched.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Kinsey Fielder - 4 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 3 RBI, 1 HR

- Tue: vs. Eastern Kentucky (Columbia, Tenn.) (6:30 p.m. ET)

- Sat: vs. No. 15 Arkansas (5:30 p.m.)

- Sun: vs. No. 15 Arkansas (Noon)

- Mon: vs. No. 15 Arkansas (7 p.m.)

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