Tennessee softball is moving on in the Women's College World Series in bizarre fashion.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Laura Mealer provided a single to left field to push the Lady Vols to a 5-4 win over UCLA.

It maybe shouldn't have gotten to this point in the first place, though. In the top of the seventh, it appeared the Bruins had tied the game thanks to a two-run home run off the bat of Megan Grant.

However, Grant missed home plate and was pulled back to step on it by a teammate after celebrating. After review, the umpire admitted the runner missed the plate and was assisted, but it was not a reviewable play and the run stood.

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Prior to the chaos, Tennessee took its two-run lead with a Taylor Pannell home run in the fifth. Its other two runs came off the bat of Mealer in the top of the first.

Pannell finished with three hits, including a home run and a ninth-inning double. Mealer notched two hits and three RBI.

It was Karlyn Pickens who got the ball in the circle for the Lady Vols. She pitched the entire game while allowing just four runs on 11 hits. She walked four and struck out seven, as well.

UCLA jumped out on Pickens early. The Bruins produced a pair of singles in the top of the first, but were put down without any damage done off an infield fly double play.

The Lady Vols took advantage of the pitching Pickens gave them to get out of the jam. In the bottom of the first, Tennessee got Pannell and Ella Dodge on with singles. A McKenna Gibson intentional walk loaded the bases with two outs for Mealer.

Mealer singled to center to push across the first two runs of the game and gave UT a 2-0 lead after an inning of play.

UCLA didn't let the advantage last long, though. The Bruins used solo home runs from Alexis Ramirez and Sofia Mujica to tie the game in the top of the second.

The pitching clamped down on both sides with the game tied at two. After getting runners on with walks in the third and fourth innings, UCLA truly threatened in the fifth. The Bruins used a single and a two-out double to put two in scoring position. Pickens intentionally walked the following batter to load the bases.

However, Pickens would strike out Ramirez, who had already taken her yard on the day, to get out of the jam.

In the bottom of the fifth, Tennessee got its first runner on in eight tries thanks to a Gabby Leach single, her second of the day. That made way for Pannell to lift a ball deep to left field for a two-run home run.

Sophia Nugent followed it up with a two-out single and Gibson singled while advancing to second on the throw to third. Both runners were safe after review, putting two in scoring position for Mealer. She ultimately grounded out, though, to end the inning up 4-2.

In the sixth, UCLA appeared to have two on with two outs. However, upon review, a runner was ruled out of the baseline and Tennessee got out of the inning without giving up a run.

The Lady Vols got into trouble with two outs in the top of the seventh. The Bruins singled before Grant hit a home run. She did not touch home plate and was illegally assisted back to the plate. After review, it was deemed the play was not reviewable.

In the bottom of the inning, Pannell was a few feet from hitting a walk-off home run as it sailed foul. She ultimately walked. Gibson ripped a line drive to third, but it was caught and Pannell's pinch-runner was doubled up.

To open extras, Pickens worked a 1-2-3 inning. It looked like Tennessee would go down in order, as well, but UCLA dropped a pop up in the infield with two outs. Saviya Morgan pushed the runner, Emma Clarke, to third on a single. A fly-out ended the inning with no damage done.

In the ninth, Pickens allowed two singles and intentionally walked Grant to load the bases with two outs. She would force a ground out to get out unscathed.

To lead off the bottom of the ninth, Pannell ripped a ball to left field. On the field, it was called a double, but UT requested a review. Upon replay, the ball seemed to be headed out but the UCLA outfielder got a glove on it to keep it in play off the very top of the wall.

The Bruins intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases with one out. Mealer came through with a single to keep Tennessee alive.

Tennessee will have to win two more games in a row to punch its ticket to the Women's College World Series championship.

The Lady Vols will meet Texas for both matches tomorrow. The first game will be held at noon ET on ESPN. If the Longhorns win, they will head to the finals and eliminate Tennessee.

If the Lady Vols win, they will force a final winner-take-all match at approximately 2:30 p.m. ET, also on Monday. That will air on ESPN, as well.

The winner between Tennessee and Texas will get the winner between Texas Tech and Oregon or Oklahoma. The best-of-three finals series will begin on Wednesday, June 4, and be played on consecutive days until a winner is crowned.

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