SB Preview: #4 Tennessee Welcomes #20 Clemson To Rocky Top For Midweek Showdown

  • Tuesday, April 22, 2025
  • UT Sports
Fourth-ranked Tennessee returns to the diamond Tuesday night for its final nonconference and midweek matchup of the season, welcoming No. 20 Clemson to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET.
 
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
For more gameday and parking information, visit the softball gameday information page HERE.
 
Parking shuttles will be available free of charge at the Agricultural Campus, starting 1.5 hours before the first pitch.
When Stephenson Drive lots fill up, fans will be redirected to the Ag Campus parking and shuttles on River Drive.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Tuesday's top-20 clash will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU, with Eric Frede (play-by-play) and Madison Shipman (analyst) on the call.
 
Fans can also tune into a free audio broadcast with Brian Rice, the Voice of the Lady Vols, available on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics app, and AM 990. Direct audio links will be shared on the Tennessee softball schedule and via @Vol_Softball on social media.
 
NOTABLE
RANKINGS
Tennessee is ranked in all four major polls heading into the midweek matchup: No. 4 (NFCA), No. 2 (USASB), No. 4 (D1S) and No. 1 (SA).
 
AGAINST THE TIGERS
This marks the fourth all-time meeting between Tennessee and Clemson—and the first in Knoxville. The Lady Vols lead the series 2–1 and have claimed the last two meetings, including a 2-1, nine-inning thriller in Clemson last March. All three previous matchups have been decided by a single run, with two extending to extra innings.
 
SEC SUCCESS
Tennessee has been a force in conference play, winning 21 of its last 23 SEC series and compiling a 53-16 record over that span. The Lady Vols have swept nine of those series.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
Sherri Parker Lee Stadium continues to be a fortress for the Lady Vols. Since 2021, Tennessee holds a 116-25 home record and boasts a +544 run differential. In conference play, UT has claimed 15 of 19 home series in that timeframe.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Tennessee extended its SEC win streak with a sweep of Auburn over Easter weekend. Sophomore pitcher Sage Mardjetko was lights-out, earning two wins while allowing just five runs on eight hits with 13 strikeouts and one walk.
 
Offensively, Taylor Pannell led the charge, batting .625 (5-for-8) in the series. She scored four runs, notched a triple and a home run, drove in two RBIs, and swiped a base.
 
SCOUTING CLEMSON
Head Coach (Record at Clemson): John Rittman (226-76)
2025 Record: 37-12
Series Record: Tennessee leads, 2-1
In Knoxville: First meeting
In Clemson: Tennessee leads, 1-0
At Neutral Sites: Series tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Tennessee won 2-1 in nine innings on March 5, 2024, in Clemson, South Carolina
 
DUE UP
The Lady Vols travel to Oxford, Mississippi, for their penultimate SEC series against Ole Miss, set for April 25–27.
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