Amid the cheers at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, history was made on Monday by Lady Vol Karlyn Pickens, hurling a fastball that zipped across the plate at an unprecedented 78.2 MPH. This feat, documented by WATE, shattered the previous record for the fastest pitch in college softball history—77 MPH by Monica Abbott, which had stood since 2012.
Aiming to avoid a sweep against the formidable Arkansas Razorbacks, the Tennessee Lady Vols got much more than a win; they got a record-breaking performance from their ace in the circle. After relieving teammate Sage Mardjetko, Pickens pitched 4.1 shutout innings, which allowed the team to eke out a 3-2 victory. Along with her six strikeouts, Pickens' fastball reached a velocity that in softball is just about as rare as someone winning the lottery twice. After tying Abbott's record during a game against Oregon last month, Pickens surpassed it, as documented in a UT Daily Beacon interview, with Pickens acknowledging the magnitude of the number 78: "It's obviously something I've had my mind on to hit that number, to beat the record."
Her performance this season underscores an already impressive collegiate career. With 89.1 innings under her belt so far this season, Pickens has held opponents to a meager 11 earned runs and 45 hits, and she's fanned 131 batters—underscoring her place as one of the top pitchers in the nation. Her dominant presence in the game has managed to position the Lady Vols at the vanguard of collegiate softball, making them the keepers of the records for the fastest pitches in both their sports—softball and baseball—courtesy of Ben Joyce's 2022 record-setting throw for the men's team.
For Pickens, though, the accomplishment seemed to carry a personal resonance that reverberated beyond the pitcher's mound. Making the journey from Weaverville, North Carolina to witness their daughter's momentous game were Pickens' parents. In an interview with UT Daily Beacon, Pickens reflected on their support, "They've pushed me and they've reminded me of that number, just to keep working toward that." And in the afterglow of setting a new record, those numbers—78.2, the speed of her pitch, and one, the singular place she now holds in the record books—seem to shine even brighter.
