OKLAHOMA CITY — Tennessee used a big first inning to roll to an 11-3 run-rule win over Florida in five innings during an elimination game at the Women’s College World Series on Friday.
The Lady Vols (46-16) will take on the loser of Saturday’s Texas Tech-UCLA game on Sunday.
Tennessee’s Alannah Leach went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a run.
Florida’s season ends at 48-17.
Tennessee scored seven runs in the first, pounding out seven hits against Gators pitchers Kara Hammock and Ava Brown.
Gabby Leach started the bottom of the first with a triple down the first base line, the first of four consecutive hits for Tennessee.
After a pitching change, McKenna Gibson drew a bases-loaded walk and two batters later, Alannah Leach delivered a three-run double to make it 6-0 with no outs.
The Lady Vols added to their lead in the second with back-to-back home runs from Sophia Nugent and Gibson.
Tennessee added an unearned run in the third. After Florida scored three in the fourth on back-to-back homers from Reagan Walsh and Korbe Otis, the Lady Vols stretched the lead back to eight on Alannah Leach’s RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.
Vols ace Karlyn Pickens started the game, but after the big first inning, Sage Mardjetko entered in relief and threw two innings before Erin Nuwer closed the game with two scoreless innings.
–Field Level Media
