No. 7 UCLA softball (6-1) will take on No. 3 Tennessee (7-0) and No. 6 Florida State (7-1) on Saturday after splitting its first two games at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational in Florida. UCLA came back from a four-run deficit against Missouri and nearly completed a three-run comeback against Oklahoma State on Friday. But even stiffer competition will challenge the Bruins on Saturday. Daily Bruin contributor Lucas Francke analyzes the Volunteers’ and Seminoles’ rosters ahead of the Saturday slate.
Tennessee Personnel:
Position Player to Watch: Sophia Knight
Pitcher to Watch: Erin Nuwer
X-Factor: Gabby Leach
Tennessee Stat Profile:
Batting Average: .294
Slugging: .482
Earned Run Average: 0.31
Tennessee has been lights out to start its 2026 campaign.
The Lady Volunteers have looked dominant on all sides of the ball with a perfect record to begin action. Six athletes have recorded a home run, and the squad has allowed only three runs while maintaining a .995 fielding percentage.
The last time the Bruins faced the Lady Vols was at the Women’s College World Series last June, which ended their 2025 season. Tennessee bested UCLA 5-4.
Tennessee’s early success can be credited to sophomore pitcher Erin Nuwer. Nuwer has appeared in five games this season, earning the win in four. She has allowed one hit across 15 innings pitched.
In Tennessee’s season-opening mercy-rule win over BYU, Nuwer notched a no-hitter for the second time in her collegiate career and the 62nd time in program history. Pitching coach Megan Rhodes Smith has helped 13 Lady Vols achieve this accomplishment.
Tennessee has trailed just once in a game this season. In addition to Nuwer, two other pitchers boast a 0.00 ERA.
The Lady Vols have also outscored their opponents with a plus-45 run differential. Nine players have a batting average above .250, with junior outfielders Sophia Knight and Gabby Leach boasting .435 and .368 clips, respectively.
Knight was selected on the D1 Softball Top 100 list in 2025 and was named a Freshman All-American by Softball America in 2024. She leads the team with 23 at-bats, often batting in the lead-off position.
Knight also leads the team in hits with 10 and has reached home plate eight times – which is tied for first on the team. Although her talent is apparent, she is one of three Lady Vols in the starting lineup who has yet to hit a home run this season.
Tennessee can tally runs, yet no batter has recorded more than one home run thus far. Leach and redshirt sophomore utility Ella Dodge sit at a plus-.700 slugging percentage, sitting at .737 and .722, respectively.
The team has doubled 14 times, with Leach and Dodge each having four to their name.
Tennessee bears just one error in the field, which sophomore infielder Emma Clarke committed in the top of the second inning against then-No. 21 Liberty. Other than this fluke, the defense has been perfect on the diamond.
Under the helm of coach Karen Weekly, who has 1,355 career wins across a 25-year long tenure, Tennessee has known what it means to be extraordinary. The Lady Vols will need to maintain their pitching and fielding dominance if they want to stifle UCLA’s high-powered offense.
Florida State Personnel:
Position Player to Watch: Isa Torres
Pitcher to Watch: Jazzy Francik
X-Factor: Makenna Sturgis
Florida State Stat Profile:
Batting Average: .341
Slugging: .570
Earned Run Average: 2.13
Defense wins championships, but it also helps when your offense is playing like Florida State’s is.
Across eight games, the Seminoles have shown why they are nationally renowned. They have outscored their opponents 55-15 while boasting a .985 fielding percentage.
Production at the plate has come from every player. Nine Seminoles are hitting above .280, with junior infielder Isa Torres’ .429 average leading the charge.
Torres was named to the First Team All-ACC in 2025 and was named a D1 Softball Preseason All-American ahead of the 2026 season. She has 12 hits across 28 at-bats, including three doubles and a triple.
Freshman infielder Marin Heller is also hitting .414 and has recorded four doubles on a .621 slugging percentage. Juniors Ashtyn Danley and Jaysoni Beachum have added a complementary pop in the beginning and middle of the batting order – batting .385 and .381, respectively. Freshman utility Makenna Sturgis has provided power with two home runs and a team-leading .708 slugging percentage.
But the Seminoles also know when not to swing the bat.
They have shown discipline at the plate with 35 walks compared to 21 strikeouts. Beachum has a whopping nine walks to start the season, which is more than the number of hits she has.
Florida State has been successful in the circle. The Seminoles’ pitchers have a combined 2.13 ERA and hold their opponents to a slim .189 batting average.
Sophomore pitcher Jazzy Francik boasts a 0.61 ERA with four wins. She has pitched 23 innings in six appearances, allowing 10 hits and striking out 22 batters. With three shutouts to her name, Francik has been a big contributor to the team’s early triumphs.
Florida State’s lone loss came against No. 1 Texas Tech in a battle determined by one run. This game against a tough opponent showed flashes of the Seminoles’ 2026 potential.
The Seminoles are under the leadership of coach Lonni Alameda, who was named ACC Coach of the Year in 2023 and 2025. She was inducted to the NFAC Hall of Fame in 2023.
Both Florida State and UCLA will need their offenses to stay hot if they want to come out on top. Whichever pitcher can limit their high-scoring opponent will likely lead their squad to victory.
Comments are closed.