Tennessee's Tory Lewis (7) drives in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning during an NCAA softball game in the Women's College World Series between Washington and Tennessee at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Saturday, June 1, 2013. Tennessee won 1-0. (AP Photo/The Oklahoman, Nate Billings)
Tennessee's Whitney Hammond celebrates during the second game of the NCAA Women's College World Series softball tournament, against Florida on Thursday, May 30, 2013, in Oklahoma CityOKLAHOMA CITY - No. 9 hitter Tory Lewis singled up the middle to score pinch-runner Whitney Hammond with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Tennessee beat Washington 1-0 on Saturday in the winners bracket of the Women's College World Series.
Both Lewis and Hammond came to the Lady Vols from Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga.
Ellen Renfroe (19-4) allowed two hits and struck out 10 for Tennessee, which today will face a team from the losers bracket for a spot in the best-two-of-three finals starting Monday night. The Lady Vols would have to lose twice today not to advance.
Tennessee (51-10) stranded 13 runners through six innings against Washington's Kaitlin Inglesby (23-8), leaving the bases loaded three times. In the seventh, Cheyanne Tarango reached on an infield single and Hammond ran for her.
Melissa Brown sacrificed Hammond to second base. Rainey Gaffin walked and Hannah Akamine lined out to Inglesby, who unsuccessfully tried to double Gaffin off first base. Hammond took advantage and raced to third base, setting up Lewis' winning hit.