Tennessee Coach Karen Weekly smelled blood in the water and called on the shark.
Well, let’s back up a half inning. Tennessee, in the top of the 5th, had just broken open a 1-1 tie with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. A single and a double were assisted by a Jordy Frahm hit batsman and passed ball which would credit to catcher Jessie Farrell. Freshman Alexis Jensen came in and ended inning but not before throwing a wild pitch of her own scoring the Vols’ 4th run.
Weekly had gone with #2 starter Sage Mardjetko
probably thinking she’d give the Huskers a less-viewed option than All-American Karlyn Pickens who, while having beat the Huskers in the deciding game of the 2025 Knoxville Super Regional, had gone 2-2 against the Huskers last season and been lifted early in both the losses.
Mardjetko and Erin Nuwer had looked excellent against the Huskers through 4 innings, but when given the benefit of 3-run lead, there was little doubt who would be called on to close the door…or sink her teeth into that swimmer who’d strayed too far from Amity Island.
She did scatter 3 walks, but the rest of the 3-inning appearance also included 4 strikeouts and zero. In the bottom of the 7th with some big guns? A surging Sammie Bland? Soft loner to 2nd. Jordy Frahm? K. Hannah Camenzind? K. Game. Set. Match. Dinner. Vols win 4-3. But what about the 3 walks?
So she played with her food a little.
Before getting into what went wrong a little, we need to take a quick look at couple of freshman who will be factoring in very much in 2026; one expectedly so, one not so much.
First off, true freshman Alexis Jensen, who has been up and down but undisputedly has some of the best stuff in the country. (Yes, country) Her problem hasn’t been control, but rather when to work corners at the risk of a walk.
She’s learning.
After a wild first weekend – 10.1 innings 21 K’s 0 walks, but 19 hits and 5 HR’s and 10 runs. She bounced back with a 4-inning gem against #10 LSU but another shaky outing against #17 Georgia. Today against #2 Tennessee, it was 2.1 innings 1 hit 3 K’s – and no runs allowed as she did her part to give the Husker bats a chance to get back in it. She wore #86 today as it appeared her #99 jersey didn’t make the trip.
Jensen did and good thing because her potential has begun the transformation to performance in Clearwater.
Redshirt freshman Carlie Muhlbach left high school early to redshirt with the Huskers last Spring to spend a season working with the team and acclimating to a D1 lifestyle. She got her first crack against UTSA last weekend and responded with a home run while looking very comfortable behind the plate. She added a pinch-hit single yesterday in the 7th inning comeback attempt against Georgia.
Those earned her first start at DP against Tennessee and she went down swinging in her first at-bat of the day. She drew walks in her next two appearances showing a patience for which freshmen are not normally known. But it was the final bat which softball fans will remember – a final walk which possibly left more of an impression than the home run.
Muhlbach stood in against Pickens and didn’t flinch. She started off 1-2, then proceeded to foul off 5 pitches while eventually running the count full. And those weren’t weak swings or taps to stay alive. She was wholly focused, staring down the pitches, some upwards of 70mph, and swinging with purpose and intent, just missing long shots while fouling them back.
It was a battle as opposed to when most other hitters, many older, walk up to the plate against Pickens already beaten and determine whether or not to swing before the pitch has been released. Moments like these and the body language within them show Muhlbach is a player who is ready to force her way through the door. She can give Farrell some days off behind the plate with her bat being used at DP other times.
Keep an eye on Carlie Muhlbach.
The Huskers stepped willingly into this pre-season schedule and it was the right decision. That being said, they don’t have half the season to tighten everything up if they want those regional and super-regional hosting dates awarded to them. The defense has improved over weekend one, but it needs to lock down further.
The bats are not there yet. Several are still slumping and it’s fair to ask how long Revelle sticks with Hannah Coor who is currently hitting .087. She’s earned the defensive spot in center, but DP’ing for her must be considered, especially without a track record of proven success as a 3-year backup at Oklahoma.
Given the schedule this season, another .346 team batting average is not likely. But right now they’re hitting .291 to their opponent’s .335. And they managed but a single hit on Friday. Both need to correct beginning tomorrow.
The Huskers resume on-field combat – yes, combat, I just rewatched F1 again this week, don’t you judge me – against Central Florida tomorrow at 12:30pm on ESPN+. Will a certain former Huskers QB residing less than 2 hours away make an appearance? Time will tell.
But regardless of that history, a victory over the Knights is sorely needed tomorrow. Go Big Red.
