#3 Lady Vols Earn Two Top 25 Wins on Saturday

Tennessee defeats #23 Florida Atlantic and #6 UCLA in dominant fashion

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The third-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols softball team picked up a pair of top 25 wins on Saturday at the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational in Florida. Tennessee defeated #23 Florida Atlantic 8-0 in six innings in the first game, then rolled past #6 UCLA 11-0 in five innings in the nightcap. The Lady Vols have now beaten five ranked opponents through the first nine games of the season, the most in program history over the opening two weekends.

Why it matters

These wins over highly ranked opponents demonstrate the Lady Vols' strength and depth as they continue their impressive start to the 2026 season. Tennessee's ability to dominate both Florida Atlantic and UCLA, two top teams in the country, shows they are a force to be reckoned with and a serious contender for the national championship.

The details

In the first game, Tennessee rode aggressive baserunning and steady pitching to shut out Florida Atlantic. The Lady Vols scored twice in the first inning and then broke the game open with a three-run fourth. Alannah Leach hit her first career home run in the fifth inning. In the second game, Tennessee erupted for eight runs in the third inning, including a grand slam by Taelyn Holley, to cruise past UCLA. Emma Clarke and Alannah Leach also homered for the Lady Vols, who one-hit the Bruins.

  • The Lady Vols' wins came on Saturday, February 15, 2026 at the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational.

The players

Sophia Knight

A Tennessee player who led off the first game with a single and stole both second and third base.

Gabby Leach

A Tennessee player who stole second base and scored a run in the first game.

Erin Nuwer

The Tennessee pitcher who held UCLA to just one hit in the second game, earning her fifth win of the season.

Taelyn Holley

The Tennessee player who hit a grand slam in the third inning of the second game to break the game open.

Emma Clarke

The Tennessee player who hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning of the second game.

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What’s next

The Lady Vols will close out their stay in Clearwater with a matinee showdown against #7 Florida State on Sunday at noon ET, which will be televised on ESPN2.

The takeaway

Tennessee's ability to dominate both Florida Atlantic and UCLA, two top teams in the country, shows they are a force to be reckoned with and a serious contender for the national championship this season.