KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee softball got back to work in its second fall game on Sunday, a clear day at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. The team came away with a 10-1 win over 10 innings of play. Head coach Karen Weekly saw a lot of good things from her group. However, she also identified a couple of areas she wants to see improve as the fall goes on.
Below are some observations of mine through the first weekend of fall ball. I’ve paid attention to the lineup trends in the infield. It’s just fall ball, but I have a strong indication on the personnel at least. This team is versatile, and people can move around easily.
Through two fall games, I’ve noticed more intent and power at the plate. The hire of associate head coach Ehren Earleywine is already paying dividends. By the time the regular season arrives, this team should look completely different than it did in 2026.
Weekly credited Earleywine’s clarity and accountability for the early change.
“He’s big on hard hit balls, and we’re seeing more hard hit balls,” Weekly said. “So even a lot of our outs, they’re tough plays for the infield to make. That ball’s getting on them quick.”
She added that Earleywine backs up his teaching with video, and the players have bought in. “They really have a lot of confidence in what he’s teaching,” she said.
Pitching depth taking shape
Sage Mardjetko took the start for the second consecutive game and struck out two in the opening frame, allowing one hit up the middle. Weekly said Friday that she is preparing Mardjetko for the load she will carry in the spring. The veteran pitched five innings in each game this weekend.
With Pickens graduated, Mardjetko has stepped into the ace role along with Erin Nuwer. Her rise ball and changeup mix will give a lot of hitters trouble. Her ability to go from the mid 60s to the high 40s baffles hitters who aren’t accustomed to it.
Peyton Hardenburger took the ball after Mardjetko in both games and looked good in the circle, working up and down in the zone well. Maggie Krause also saw innings across both games. This is a staff that looks to have nice depth.
“I was really pleased with our pitching again today,” Weekly said. “I thought especially Peyton and Maggie looked more settled in today… I just felt like they were a little bit more in command, in control, and more confident out there.”
The lineup
Emma Clarke started at third base again and looks very comfortable there. Bella Faw started at shortstop, Karley Shelton at second, Makenzie Butt at first, and Elsa Morrison behind the plate.
Sophia Knight led off the bottom of the first, fell behind on a foul bunt, and worked a walk. Shelton hit second. This would give Tennessee back-to-back lefties at the top of the order if Weekly chooses to go that way. There are a great amount of lefties on this team. Weekly sees that group as a weapon because of its versatility.
“We have lefties who have versatility,” Weekly said. “We have three lefties, maybe even more than that, who can drop a bunt, who can slap, and who can swing away. The importance is making sure that they feel comfortable with all three of their tools. And most of our lefties have some pretty good speed too. So get them on base, make some things happen. That’s what we’re looking for, just versatile offensive threats.”
The power show
Shelton launched a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the third. The South Carolina transfer brings more pop to the lineup. In addition, she’s a fighter in the box who can come back from behind in the count to produce a positive result.
Morrison followed with a solo home run to put Tennessee up 4-0. Clarke still has the power and discipline at the plate, smashing a no-doubt two-run homer to center field.
Players to watch
Makenzie Butt’s bat looks improved over the summer and into the fall. She hit .286 with a 1.004 OPS in 2026. Through the first couple of fall games I’ve noticed a lot of power in her swing, with an emphasis on attacking the middle of the field. She can also pull it down the line.
“I think she’s making good adjustments in the middle of an at bat,” Weekly said. “She might be late on a swing, and then she’s stepping out, resetting, and making an adjustment to get better timing.”
Weekly would still like to see Butt flatten out her swing a bit so she can handle any pitch in the zone.
Freshman catcher Avary Stockwell came in behind the plate after Mardjetko exited. She shows the ability to keep balls from getting past her, and the right-handed hitter can hit to all fields. She knocked one off the top of the right field wall on Sunday, missing a home run by inches.
“Really coachable. We were talking about that in the dugout tonight,” Weekly said. “If you tell her something to do, she’s going to do it. She wants to learn. She wants to get better. Big arm, really big arm.”
Weekly said the next step for Stockwell at the plate is getting out in front so she can do damage to the pull side.
Halle Bailey is a freshman lefty I expect to crack the lineup in some capacity. She also hit in the DP spot this weekend, when she wasn’t in the field. The Alcoa, Tennessee, native has a pretty swing that can be violent given her frame. Additionally, she’s serviceable around the infield, playing third, shortstop, and second over the first two games.
“She’s just consistent,” Weekly said. “Every day, you know what you’re going to get… She’s a lunch pail, hard hat kind of kid. She’s just going to go to work.”
Weekly wants Bailey to cut down on the pop ups and use her speed by hitting the ball hard on a line or on the ground. I would definitely keep an eye on her.
Room to clean up
Tennessee still has work to do on the basepaths. The Lady Vols were doubled up on a fly ball Sunday, and a runner was caught in a rundown between first and second after straying too far off the bag.
Weekly also felt the offense left some production on the field late. She noted the team put up only two runs over the last five innings.
“I think we’re capable of more than that,” she said. “I just felt like we had some at bats that we probably gave away and could’ve been a little bit more intentional with.”
Depth everywhere
Weekly has good depth on this roster. As she says, it’s all about finding the best nine hitters to put in the lineup. It’s fall ball, and the competition isn’t what Tennessee will see in the spring. But the offensive talent is definitely there, and with continued work and development, this team should be better than last season.
Stay tuned for more from Lady Vols fall competition. They will return to Sherri Parker Lee on Friday, October 2, 2026 at 6 p.m. EDT as they host Carson Newman.
