KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Virginia Tech needed only one big swing yesterday to upend favored Tennessee 4-0 in the Knoxville Regional of the NCAA softball tournament.

Caroline Stolle hit a grand slam in the fourth inning to produce all the offense the Hokies needed in a regional semifinal at Lee Softball Field. The Hokies (45-15) will face either Tennessee, Louisville or Winthrop in the final.

The Hokies had more than enough chances to put away the Volunteers early, and floundered their best chance in the second. Stolle struck out with the bases jammed, leaving the game scoreless.

Stolle, though, was given a shot at redemption in the fourth.

Again, the Hokies loaded the bases for the Chester native. This time, she worked Tennessee pitcher Megan Rhodes, seven times fending off unfavorable pitches.

Stolle, given new life when catcher Kenora Posey overran a pop-up in foul territory, muscled a 3-2 pitcher over the right-center field fence to eliminate the 13th-seeded Volunteers.

The Hokies' fourth-inning surge began when Jessica Everhart singled to move Kelsey Hoffman to second. After Hoffman was lifted in favor of pinch-runner Heather Lowry, Beth Walker singled to load the bases to set up Stolle's game-winning grand slam.

Angela Tincher, the Hokies' All-America pitcher who threw 157 pitches in Friday's 10-inning win over Louisville, totaled only 106 pitches in striking out 14 and surrendering just three hits yesterday.

Virginia Tech ------------------------- 000 400 0--4 5 0
Tennessee ------------------------- 000 000 0--0 3 1

Tincher and Hoffman; Rhodes and Doepking.

Records: Virginia Tech 45-15; Tennessee 48-15