Karlyn Pickens threw a complete game, and Taelyn Holley hit a solo home run to lead the Tennessee Lady Volunteers to a 5-1 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers in the Knoxville Regional final Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Pickens allowed just one run on two hits while striking out nine and walking four. The victory sends the Lady Volunteers to the Super Regionals for the fourth consecutive year.

Holley, who finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored, extended the lead in the top of the sixth inning with a solo home run. Makenzie Butt delivered an RBI single in the fifth and finished 1-for-4. Alannah Leach went 1-for-3, hitting an RBI double in the sixth, and Sophia Knight drove in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly in the third. She finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base.

Virginia tied the score in the bottom of the third when Macee Eaton, who went 1-for-4, hit an RBI double. Jaiden Griffith recorded the Cavaliers' only other hit, going 1-for-3.

Virginia starting pitcher Taylor Smith allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits over 5⅓ innings. Eden Bigham pitched the final 1⅔ innings in relief, giving up one earned run on one hit.

After Knight's sacrifice fly in the top of the third gave Tennessee a 1-0 lead, Virginia responded immediately in the bottom half on Eaton's double to tie the score 1-1. The Lady Volunteers regained the lead for good in the fourth when Ella Dodge scored on an error. They added a run in the fifth on Butt's single before Holley's homer and Leach's double in the sixth extended the lead to 5-1.

Up next: The NCAA softball tournament continues Thursday with best-of-three super regionals.

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