Making contact against Karlyn Pickens is already one of the toughest assignments in professional softball. Recently, even the bats have struggled to survive her overpowering pitches.
The former Tennessee Lady Vols superstar created two unforgettable moments during consecutive starts for the Carolina Blaze, breaking a batter’s bat in each appearance.
Two Pitches, Two Broken Bats
The first remarkable moment happened on July 11 against the Texas Volts.
Infielder Leighann Goode attempted to bunt a 75 mph pitch from Pickens. When the ball struck the bat, the two-piece bat separated, leaving Goode holding the handle in one hand and the barrel in the other.
Just four days later, another bat failed against Pickens.
On July 15, Chicago Bandits infielder Taryn Kern fouled off one of Pickens’ pitches. As Kern completed her swing, the barrel disconnected from the handle and dropped onto the field.
Karlyn Pickens broke TWO metal bats over her last two starts 😳
She is currently tied with Montana Fouts for @theAUSLofficial single-season strikeout record with 53 Ks! pic.twitter.com/FhmftTo2Na
— MLB (@MLB) July 17, 2026
Seeing a bat break once is unusual in softball. Watching the same pitcher do it twice within two starts shows just how much speed and force Pickens generates from the circle.
Pickens Is Also Chasing AUSL History
The broken bats attracted attention online, but Pickens’ strikeout numbers may be even more impressive.
By July 17, the Carolina rookie had recorded 53 strikeouts, moving past the previous AUSL single-season record of 51. Former Alabama star Montana Fouts later reached 53 as well, creating a late-season battle between two of softball’s most dominant pitchers.
Pickens’ immediate success should not surprise anyone who watched her at Tennessee. The Carolina Blaze selected her with the first overall pick in the 2026 AUSL College Draft after a historic college career with the Lady Vols.
From Tennessee Record Breaker to Professional Star
Pickens became famous nationally for throwing the fastest recorded pitch in softball history.
During Tennessee’s 2025 NCAA Super Regional against Nebraska, she delivered a 79.4 mph pitch, breaking the record she had established earlier that same season. :
However, her Tennessee legacy was built on more than speed.
Pickens completed her college career with 824 strikeouts, 26 shutouts and four no-hitters. She also earned two SEC Pitcher of the Year awards while helping Tennessee remain one of the country’s strongest softball programs.
Now she is carrying that dominance into professional softball.
Breaking two bats may not appear on a traditional stat sheet, but the moments perfectly represent the challenge hitters face against Pickens. They must react to elite velocity, locate a rapidly moving pitch and somehow make solid contact—all within a fraction of a second.
Sometimes, even when they succeed, the bat still loses.