No. 12 Tennessee got back to its winning ways Wednesday evening as they defeated East Tennessee State in both games of a doubleheader.

Tennessee softball defeated ETSU 4-3 in game one and 7-0 in game two after losing the last two games of a three-game series to Auburn over the weekend.

Ashton Ward got credit for both wins on the evening improving her record on the season to 19-3.

Tennessee (33-7) won the first game despite late pitching struggles thanks to a walk-off single by sophomore Tiffany Huff.

The Lady Vols took the lead in the second inning when Erin Webb doubled following a Jennifer Lapicki single.

Tennessee added two more runs in the fifth inning when Tonya Callahan tripled home two runs. Kenora Posey and Kelly Grieve scored on the Callahan triple after both had singles to lead off the inning.

"We got a three run lead and we sat on it," head coach Ralph Weekly said. "I was disappointed."

Megan Rhodes had a solid game up until the sixth inning when she gave up four hits and the tying run for the Lady Buccanneers. 

Katy Jett scored first for the Bucs on a Katie Henderson double. Henderson and Marissa Hardy added to the scoring tally on an Amanda Haverman single that fell about one foot shy of a home run.

I guess I am the one-hitter queen. Ashton Ward

Rhodes left the game after giving up three runs in the sixth. She finished the night having given up five hits and three earned runs in six innings. The senior from Nashville also struckout eight while walking just one on the night.

"Megan is having back spasms," said Weekly. "She was struggling, so we took her out."

Ward pitched a quick seventh striking out one and allowing one hit.

In the bottom of the seventh, Grieve singled and Chandra Mogan reached base with a walk. Mogan advanced to second when Callahan grounded into a double play with Grieve.

Mogan became the winning run when Huff hit a walk-off single to end the game.

"I was just looking for something I could drive," Huff said. "It was an RBI situation and I came through."

Tennessee proved they were better than their game one performance indicated, leaving suspense with five runs in the first inning of game two.

Grieve drew a walk, then, after a stolen base and advancing to third on a sacrifice, she scored on a squeeze bunt by Callahan.

After a Shannon Doepking double and a Huff walk, Lapicki doubled home two more runs as Callahan and Doepking scored. Danielle Pieroni doubled home Huff and Lapicki two batters later.

The Lady Vols added two more runs in the fourth inning. Grieve singled with two outs. After stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch, she scored on a single by Mogan. Nicole Kajitani pinch ran for Mogan and scored on a double by Callahan.

Callahan has hit safely in 10 straight games.

"I think I am just seeing the ball real well," Callahan said. "I'm not thinking up at the plate a lot like I have been in the past and its working."

While the Tennessee offense built its lead, Ward was throwing strikeouts and not giving any comfort to opposing batters. In seven innings, she had just one walk and hit one batter while striking out 11.

"I'm working on a process," Ward said. "Every game I try to change and fix things and work on something new and go at the batters."

Ward kept a no hitter going until the seventh inning when she allowed a double to Hardy for her only hit allowed in the nightcap.

"Almost," Ward said. "I guess I am the one-hitter queen. It was a good hit and she went with it."

Next up for the Lady Vols will be a doubleheader on Saturday against Georgia starting at 1 p.m. Tennessee will play Georgia again on Sunday to complete the three-game series.