Tennessee senior Karlyn Pickens was selected No. 1 overall by the Carolina Blaze in the 2026 AUSL College Draft on Monday night, capping a decorated collegiate career and sending one of the nation’s top pitchers to the expansion-era professional circuit. The Blaze, based in Durham, North Carolina, were founded in 2025 as one of the four original teams in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL).
Pickens arrives in the AUSL with a resume that made her a consensus top prospect. She was named the 2025 Softball America National Pitcher of the Year and is a two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year (2024, 2025). A two-time consensus First Team All‑American — recognized by the NFCA, D1Softball and Softball America in consecutive seasons — Pickens combined elite run prevention with heavy strikeout totals throughout her Tennessee tenure.
On the stat sheet, Pickens’ production is striking. The right‑hander made 137 appearances with 90 starts, posting a 69‑32 record and a 1.47 ERA. She completed 53 games, recorded 26 shutouts and notched 11 saves while fanning 784 batters in 614.1 innings. Opponents hit just .163 against her. Pickens also collected a string of weekly honors, including eight SEC Pitcher of the Week awards, three SEC Freshman of the Week honors in 2023 and the distinction in 2025 of becoming the first player named NFCA National Pitcher of the Week in three consecutive weeks.
Her influence extended beyond individual accolades. Pickens was a central figure in Tennessee’s recent team success, helping the Lady Vols reach the Women’s College World Series in 2023 and 2025 and making runs to the national semifinals on both appearances. She was also part of three SEC championship squads, contributing to regular‑season titles in 2023 and 2024 and the 2023 SEC Tournament championship.
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Academic honors accompanied her on‑field excellence. Pickens earned 2025 CSC Second Team Academic All‑America recognition, was twice named to the CSC Academic All‑District team and appeared on the SEC Academic Honor Roll over the last two seasons. She also made the SEC First‑Year Academic Honor Roll in 2022‑23, reflecting sustained classroom performance alongside her athletic workload.
Pickens will join a small contingent of former Lady Vols already in the AUSL. Former Tennessee teammate Peyton Gottshall plays for the Portland Cascade, and Tennessee’s Director of Player Development Aubrey Leach is on the Carolina Blaze staff and roster. The No. 1 pick bolsters the Blaze’s pitching depth as the young franchise continues to build its identity in Durham after launching in 2025.
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As Pickens transitions to the professional ranks, the Blaze and AUSL will be watching whether her collegiate dominance translates to consistent success at the next level. For Tennessee, the program adds another high‑profile draftee to its growing list of players advancing to professional softball, reinforcing the Lady Vols’ reputation as a pipeline for elite talent.
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