Arizona eliminates Washington

OKLAHOMA CITY – Monica Abbott led Tennessee to the Women’s College World Series finals Sunday, throwing her third straight shutout in the Lady Vols’ 3-0 victory over Northwestern.

In the best-of-three championship series beginning Monday night, the Lady Vols (62-6) will face defending champion Arizona, which advanced by beating sixth-seeded Washington twice Sunday by scores of 2-0 and 8-1.

Washington starter Danielle Lawrie (31-13) had been as dominant as Abbott, throwing a no-hitter and allowing only two hits in 17 shutout innings at the World Series before top-seeded Arizona (48-13-1) rallied for two runs in the sixth inning of the first game.

Jenae Leles singled and Laine Roth drew a two-out walk before Sam Banister doubled to right center to make it 2-0. Banister also had the game-winning hit in Arizona’s 5-4 extra-innings win against Washington (42-19) on May 12.

Later Sunday, Arizona got to Lawrie early with Leles’ two-run double in the first inning. She finished with four RBIs and Chelsie Mesa added three hits, drove in two runs and scored three times to lead Arizona’s offense.