Lady Mocs Score Late Runs But Fall to Western Carolina

4/5/2007 8:00:00 PM | By: GoMocs.com

Hardees Game Day Wrap-Up

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. ? Sophomore designated player Laci Upchurch's (Madison, Tenn.) two-run homer in the top of the seventh helped boost the Lady Mocs rally in the top of the seventh before falling in the bottom of the eighth 5-4.

The home run was Upchurch's eighth on the season and second in conference play.

Freshman pitcher Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.) was charged with the loss, her ninth of the season, making her record 14-9, 2-1 SoCon. Loudermilk had seven strikeouts, giving up two runs and four hits.

The Catamounts got on the board first with a two-out solo home run by Stephanie Beatty in the bottom of the first, giving Western Carolina an early 1-0 lead.

Senior second baseman Brittney Whittier (Scottsdale, Ariz.) picked up the first hit for the Lady Mocs in the top of the third. She advanced to second on a ground out by Upchurch. But Whittier was left on second as the inning retired with Chattanooga still down by a run.

Western Carolina's Nikki Bost picked up the second run for the Catamounts in her one-out homer over the left field fence in the bottom of the third for a 2-0 lead.

Batters got on base again in the top of the fourth for the Lady Mocs with senior first baseman Alyssa Edwards (Geneva, N.Y.) and freshman catcher Brittany Eason (Chattanooga, Tenn.) reaching on back-to-back walks. Edwards was thrown out at third on sophomore third baseman Toni Hutchison's (Madison, Tenn.) fielder's choice, but junior right fielder Tara Tembey (Folsom, Calif.) loaded the bases on an error by the second baseman.

But a strikeout by Whittier left all three runners on with Chattanooga still down 2-0 going into the bottom of the fourth.

Loudermilk entered the game in relief in the bottom of the fourth. Senior pitcher Ashley Frizzell (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) threw three innings, tallying five strikeouts and giving up four hits.

Loudermilk allowed one hit and hit one batter in the bottom of the inning, but threw two strikeouts to close out the fourth with the score still 2-0.

Senior left fielder Jeannie Cochran (Maryville, Tenn.) started off the offense in the top of the fifth hitting a single through the left side before stealing second. Sophomore center fielder Ashley Cuticchia (Rising Fawn, Ga.) advanced Cochran on a ground out before freshman shortstop Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.) scored Cochran on a single to the shortstop with two outs to make the score 2-1 going into the bottom of the fifth.

Bost scored again in the bottom of the fifth on an error, after reaching base on a walk and stealing second, making the score 3-1.

Chattanooga was held scoreless in the top of the sixth, but gave up a solo home run in the bottom of the inning increasing the margin to 4-1 going into the final inning.

The Lady Mocs rallied in the top of the seventh with Whittier leading off with a walk before Upchurch hit a home run over the left field fence making the score 4-3 with no outs. Cochran walked before advancing to second on a passed ball. Cuticchia hit a single to the left side to reach first and send Cochran to third.

Cochran scored on Edwards' ground out to tie the score at 4-4 going into the bottom of the inning.

Chattanooga pushed the game into extra innings after giving up a hit before recording three straight outs to leave the score tied at 4-4 after seven.

Mollie Fowler had the game winning home run for the Catamounts with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.

Chattanooga (24-22, 5-2 SoCon) finishes the conference series against Western Carolina (18-22, 3-4 SoCon) in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.

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