CLEARWATER, Fla. – Highlighted by three games on MLB Network, day three of the 2026 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic presented by MaxBP ended with just two undefeated teams – No. 4 Tennessee and Penn State.
A pitcher’s duel capped off an MLB Network tripleheader as Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens and Oregon’s Lyndsey Grein went head to head in a 2-0 victory for the fourth-ranked Lady Vols to finish the tournament 5-0. Pickens struck out nine, walked four and allowed three hits to improve to 2-0. Grein went the distance as well, surrendering both runs on just two hits for the fifth-ranked Ducks. She fanned five and walked six. Tennessee also blanked Boston College earlier in the day, 6-0, behind a combined two-hit shutout from Sage Mardjetko and Erin Nuwer, who struck out nine and four batters, respectively.
Penn State reeled off two more victories, improving to 4-0 on the young season. The Nittany Lions topped Eastern Kentucky 4-2 and rallied for a 4-3 eight-inning triumph over BYU. Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, Penn State tied it on a Macy Chamberlin RBI double, followed by a BYU throwing error. After a scoreless top half of the eighth, Kirsten Finarelli smacked a walk-off single to left.
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Joining Penn State with two wins on Saturday were Missouri, Notre Dame, Michigan State and Southeastern Louisiana. The Tigers and Fighting Irish earned their first two wins of the season to even their season marks at 2-2, while the Spartans and Lions improved to 3-1 and 3-2, respectively. RV Auburn, Pitt, South Alabama and Rutgers also won a game on Saturday.
Missouri ran away from No. 21 Liberty, 13-2, powered by an eight-run sixth, in the MLB Network opener. Auburn followed with a 10-5 victory against No. 13 Clemson.
Eastern Kentucky joined Mizzou and Notre Dame in earning its first victory of 2026. The Colonels defeated North Carolina Central, 3-1.
All games are streamed live for free courtesy of NFCA Official Sponsor GameChanger, the sole streaming provider of the tournament.
The tournament concludes tomorrow, February 8, with nine games, including two more live on MLB Network – RV Southeastern Louisiana v No. 5 Oregon at 10:00 a.m. ET and Missouri v South Alabama.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its competitive Leadoff Classics, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from a highly-regarded Awards Program to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.
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