Tennessee softball was just an out away from opening the 2025 Women's College World Series with a win over four-time defending champion Oklahoma.

Instead, the Lady Vols suffered a three-run walk-off homer off the bat of Ella Parker with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Tennessee lost 4-3 due to the swing.

This pushes the Lady Vols into the loser's bracket of the WCWS. 90% of national champions have won their opening game of the event in past tournaments.

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It was a battle between two of the best pitchers in the country. For the Lady Vols, Karlyn Pickens, the two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, got the ball. Pickens went the entire game while only allowing one run until the final swing. She struck out eight batters while giving up five hits and two home runs. She walked four.

Oklahoma got both of its runs off the bat of Parker. She hit a solo shot in the first and three-run shot in the seventh to win the game.

For the Sooners, Sam Landry was in the circle. She went the distance, as well, allowing eight hits and one earned run. She walked four and struck out just two batters. It took Landry 139 pitches to get through the seven frames.

Tennessee got its runs early. The Lady Vols plated two off a passed ball and sac-fly in the first. Then, it took advantage of an error in left field to score Ella Dodge all the way from first in what should have ended the inning.

Tennessee wasted no time getting on the board. Gabby Leach led off the game with a single, with Taylor Pannell doubling right after. After a past ball, the Lady Vols had nabbed a 1-0 advantage. With Sophia Nugent flying out and scoring Pannell, the score sat at 2-0 after half an inning.

Oklahoma had a response, though. With one out, the Sooners sent a solo shot into the bleachers in right field to cut into the lead by one.

In the second, Tennessee got two more runners on. With a pair in scoring position and one out, the Lady Vols put two balls in play. However, they couldn't take advantage of it and didn't add a run.

Oklahoma also put a runner on in the second, but Pickens responded well. She left the runner stranded and kept the 2-1 lead intact.

After a lead-off walk, Tennessee caught a break with two outs. On what should've been an inning-ending fly-out, the ball was dropped in left. Off on contact, Dodge was waved around third and snuck her hand in at home to beat the tag and take a 3-1 lead.

In response, Pickens worked the first clean inning of the game for either team.

In the fourth, Tennessee ran into a bit of trouble, though. After a lead-off and two-out walk, Pickens had the tying run on first. However, she forced a groundout to get out unscathed.

It was more drama for Pickens in the fifth, as well, with a runner reaching. Again, Pickens worked out of trouble to keep the lead at 3-1.

The Lady Vols swung back with offense in the top of the sixth. They put two on base with just one out as Landry went over 100 pitches in the game. She worked out of it to keep the score settled, though.

In the seventh, Tennessee got its lead-off batter on with a single. With great plate discipline, the Lady Vols loaded the bags for Nugent with one out. The former Sooner turned Tennessee catcher grounded into an inning-ending double-play, though.

In the bottom of the final frame, Pickens walked the lead-off batter in four pitches. She forced two more outs before allowing a single to put runners on the corners with two down, up two.

Parker, who already had a home run in the game, drilled a ball into the bleachers to score all three runs and win the game.

Tennessee is now in the loser's bracket of the tournament. The Lady Vols will meet Florida on Friday evening at 7 p.m. ET with both program's season on the line.

The game will air on ESPN.

The winner of the game will still have to win three more games in a row to advance to the finals series.

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