When March turns to May and the stakes climb higher, Tennessee softball coach Karen Weekly knows one thing for certain: postseason games aren't won—they're lost.

It's a philosophy that shapes how the Lady Vols prepare for the NCAA Tournament, and it's rooted in a simple truth. "The team that flinches first usually loses," Weekly said on May 13, as her squad gears up for its regional opener against Northern Kentucky on May 15. In the high-pressure world of tournament softball, where runs are scarce and every pitch matters, the margin for error shrinks dramatically.

For Tennessee, the pattern is clear. The games that slipped away this season often came down to free passes and defensive miscues—the kind of self-inflicted wounds that can derail even the most talented roster. "The teams that win in the postseason find a way to scrap together a crooked number in an inning or two," Weekly added. "Maybe three, if you're lucky."

That's why the Lady Vols have placed a renewed emphasis on defense heading into the regional. In a game where one error can shift momentum and one walk can spark a rally, the team that makes the fewest mistakes often advances. It's not about flashy plays or dominant hitting—it's about staying clean, staying disciplined, and letting the other team blink first.

As Tennessee looks to make a deep run, the message from the dugout is clear: don't beat yourself. In the postseason, the games are lost long before they're won.