Who is Karlyn Pickens? Tennessee softball pitcher one of hardest throwers in NCAA Tournament

Tennessee softball earned its highest-ever placement for the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, being selected as the No. 3 overall seed for the postseason. Among many reasons for the high placement was the play of SEC Pitcher of the Year Karlyn Pickens.

Pickens, a sophomore, finished the regular season with a 1.26 earned-runs average, striking out 186 batters in 156 innings. She also holds a 19-6 record with 13 complete games on the year.

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Pickens, along with fifth-year senior Payton Gottshall, make up one of the best pitching duos in the country, one that hopes to propel Tennessee back to the Women's College World Series for the second consecutive season.

Here's everything to know about Pickens, who has been of the best college softball pitchers this season:

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Who is Karlyn Pickens?

Karlyn Pickens is a sophomore pitcher for Tennessee, who led the team in innings pitched this season. Pickens, the 2024 SEC Pitcher of the Year, sported a 1.26 ERA this season in 156 innings, striking out 186 batters to 39 walks.

Pickens is known for her high velocity, as her fastball consistently lights up the radar gun at over 70 mph. She also threw 76 mph at the Women's College World Series last year as a freshman, which is believed to be the second-fastest pitch thrown by a softball pitcher ever.

Pickens is from Weaverville, North Carolina, where she was regarded as the nation's No. 2-ranked pitcher and No. 5 overall prospect as a recruit, according to Extra Innings Softball (per her Tennessee player bio). She was also the 2020-21 Gatorade Softball Player of the Year in North Carolina. ESPN listed Pickens as one of 10 "must-watch college softball players" for the 2024 postseason.

Pickens has also pitched two perfect games in her career, once against Loyola Marymount at the Mary Nutter Classic this season, and her first against Appalachian State as a freshman last year.

How fast does Karlyn Pickens throw?

Karlyn Pickens regularly hits above 70 mph on her fastball, even getting into the mid-70s on some pitches. In fact, Pickens has thrown one of the hardest pitches ever, registering 76 mph on the radar gun in the 2023 Women's College World Series.

Here's a clip of Pickens' pitch against Oklahoma last season:

Karlyn Pickens stats

Here are Karlyn Pickens' regular season stats through two seasons at Tennessee:

• 2024: 19-6 record, 1.26 ERA. 186 strikeouts, 39 walks, 13 complete games in 156 innings pitched .
• 2023: 9-7 record, 3.05 ERA. 99 strikeouts, 37 walks, five complete games in 87.1 innings pitched.