Women's College World Series: Tennessee softball eliminates Florida after hot start

As the Women's College World Series continues, so do the upsets. No. 7 Tennessee dispatched No. 3 Florida with a dominant 11-3 win in five innings, staying alive in the tournament and sending the Gators home early.

Tennessee shook off a tough 4-3 loss to defending champs Oklahoma on Thursday to get the big win over Florida. The Lady Vols began the game with a red-hot first inning, notching seven runs in the bottom of the first to take an early lead.

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Tennessee later took its lead to 9-0 off back-to-back solo homers from catcher Sophia Nugent and first baseman McKenna Gibson in the second inning. Florida switched pitchers twice in the first two innings to try and stave off Tennessee's run, but the damage was done. Another run for the Lady Vols came in the third inning off a muffed Florida catch.

But then the Gators came alive, getting back-to-back home runs of their own in the fourth inning. First baseman Reagan Walsh's two-run bomb and left fielder Korbe Otis' solo homer cut into Tennessee's deficit.

For a moment, Florida kept the run rule — an eight-run mercy rule — at bay. But the Lady Vols picked up another run in the fourth inning off outfielder Alannah Leach's fourth RBI of the game to keep the Gators sweating heading into the fifth inning.

Tennessee made quick work of Florida in the fifth and final inning, getting three outs off four batters to secure the eight-run win. On Sunday, the Lady Vols will now face off against the loser of Texas Tech vs. UCLA, which takes place on Saturday.

Florida, who lost to Texas on Thursday, will now be the first to head home. Another team will be following right behind them: unseeded Ole Miss and No. 16 Oregon will also face off on Friday, with the loser getting eliminated.