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During the course of a long college softball season, coaches know there are days like this.

Character gets tested. Opponents look for signs of weakness.

No. 4-ranked Tennessee (18-1) had one of those days Saturday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.

Florida State and Illinois State threw scares into the Lady Vols and still left disappointed.

UT scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull away for an 8-5 victory against the Seminoles.

In the second game, Tennessee had to rally for a 5-2 victory against Illinois State after falling behind 2-0 on a first-inning, two-run homer.

UT now takes a 10-game winning streak into today's NFCA finale against Nebraska at 10 a.m.

"Both games today were tough because our opponents were really ready to play, and the competition was very good," Lady Vols co-head coach Ralph Weekly said. "I thought our hitters responded each time we needed to score to give us a margin of victory."

Against the Seminoles, senior Shannon Doepking (2-for-4, two RBIs) came through with a key RBI single in the seventh.

Freshman Jem Lapicki went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and sophomore designated player Tiffany Huff managed an RBI despite getting walked on all four of her plate appearances.

Freshman pitcher Ashton Ward picked up the victory in relief despite allowing five hits and three unearned runs in 2 2/3 innings. Starter Megan Rhodes returned in the seventh and picked up her second save.

Against Illinois State, back-to-back doubles by Erinn Webb and Lapicki got UT started in the fourth. Freshman Chandra Mogan then came through with a big two-RBI single to score Lapicki and Kenora Posey for a 3-2 lead.

Senior Tonya Callahan was 4-for-4 with an RBI. Webb was 2-for-3 with two doubles.

"Both Karen (co-head coach Weekly) and I were especially proud of Shannon Doepking and Tonya Callahan's effort all day long," Ralph Weekly said. "Chandra Mogan had the key hit in game two for us, and Megan Rhodes was brilliant in relief for us in both games."

Lapicki added a double and ran her RBI total to five for the day.

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