Maddi Rutan heads into the new year as a two-way piece Tennessee wants to lean on more in the circle. Her coaches see a pitcher ready to take on a bigger role.
Rutan spent most of her first season on Rocky Top in the field and in the batter’s box, starting 44 of 53 games. In the circle she made just five appearances, going 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA. Against LSU on March 7, Rutan pitched a strong 3.2 innings and struck out 6 with 2 runs allowed on 3 hits.
Rutan picked up her last two appearances over the next week. The final was a 4.2-inning no-hit performance at Mississippi State. Additionally, the bigger sample comes from before Tennessee. Rutan was a regular in the circle at Eastern Kentucky. In two seasons for the Colonels, she posted a 42-15 record and struck out a total of 385 batters.
In 2025 she pitched to a 2.27 ERA with a 31.5 percent strikeout rate. That is the swing-and-miss stuff Tennessee wants more of.
Rutan carried a high fly-ball rate in 2026. That means she trusts her stuff and the defense behind her. She is not trying to do it all herself. The Lady Vols pride themselves on great pitching and defense, and Tennessee is a good fit for a pitcher who lets hitters put the ball in play.
Head coach Karen Weekly grouped Rutan with Peyton Hardenburger as the returners most ready to step forward behind Sage Mardjetko and Erin Nuwer. She stated the rotation is “kind of wide open” and added that she believes “Maddi and Peyton are ready to take a big step.”
Associate head coach Megan Rhodes Smith spoke on the trait that could make that step happen.
“I think the neat thing about Maddi is that she loves the big moment, she loves games,” Rhodes Smith said. “She is a gamer, and you can see it when you watch her pitch. She is having the best time out there. And so for her, it’s, how do we continue growing in the moments that are less exciting so that your stuff is even better in the moments where you’re just turning it on and going for it?”
Rhodes Smith said Rutan’s experience and competitiveness set the foundation for a larger workload.
“She’s got a lot of experience, and I think that’s really gonna help her,” Rhodes Smith said. “She’s not afraid, she doesn’t back down from a challenge. And so every time you send her out to the circle, hey, she’s going to compete, and I love that.”
The pieces around her will help. Tennessee returns a solid defensive lineup behind its pitching staff, and the Lady Vols added another proven bat and infielder in South Carolina transfer Karley Shelton. For a pitcher who lets hitters put the ball in play, that kind of support matters.
If she handles a heavier load, Rutan could be a big piece for Tennessee in 2027.
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