ATHENS, Ga. – The seventh-ranked Lady Vols dropped a hard-fought 4-3 decision to No. 13 Georgia in nine innings Saturday at Jack Turner Softball Stadium.

The loss marks Tennessee’s first defeat in an SEC opening weekend series since 2021.

Georgia (19-3, 1-1 SEC) took an early 3-0 lead with a two-run homer in the first inning and a sacrifice fly in the second.

The Lady Vols (20-4, 1-1 SEC) were held in check early, but Kinsey Fiedler broke through with a two-out single in the third, marking Tennessee’s first hit of the game. Fiedler’s hit extended her reached-base streak to 23 games.

Tennessee responded in the fifth, loading the bases with two walks and a single. Taylor Pannell then delivered a clutch bases-clearing double to left-center, tying the game at 3-3. Pannell’s three-RBI double pushed her season total to 40 RBIs.

After several tense innings with both teams threatening, Georgia found the decisive hit in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded and two outs, the Bulldogs plated the winning run with a single through the left side of the infield.

IN THE CIRCLE
Sage Mardjetko started in the circle but lasted just one inning, allowing three runs on three walks, one hit, and a strikeout.

Freshman Erin Nuwer provided solid relief, throwing three scoreless innings while giving up three hits, one walk, and recording one strikeout.

Karlyn Pickens threw the final 4.2 innings, surrendering one run on five hits, with six strikeouts and two walks. Pickens (6-3) took the loss.

DUE UP
The Lady Vols and Bulldogs conclude their opening SEC series Sunday, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET on SECN+.