UTC-Illinois State Box Score
UTC-Idaho State Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. --- When the Chattanooga softball team (5-6) needed a win, senior Toni Hutchison stepped in with a power surge to snap the Lady Mocs' five-game losing streak with a 4-0 win over Idaho State (1-7). UTC lost its first game of the day, 8-2, to Illinois State (3-5).
Hutchison finished the afternoon at 4-for-6, with two home runs and four RBI. Michelle Fuzzard (1-1) recorded her second career complete-game shutout, allowing only four hits and striking out a career-high eight.
The Lady Mocs jumped on the Bengals early thanks to a Hutchison RBI single, scoring Fuzzard. Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when Hutchison struck again with a two-run blast to left field, scoring pinch-runner Jessie Kuhlman.
Jenni Martin continued the rally with a base on balls. Pinch-runner Kaiti Kelley stole second base to get into scoring position when Jessica Traxler came up with her first career hit to drive Kelley home, and put UTC up 4-0.
In the top of the seventh Fuzzard continued her dominance of the Idaho State hitters, striking out two to retire the side in order and give the Lady Mocs the 4-0 win.
In the first game Illinois State came out of the gates swinging, scoring four runs in the first inning off UTC pitcher Kandice Irwin (2-4). Irwin did not have her best stuff, only lasting one-third of an inning, allowing four earned runs off six hits.
Hutchison cut into the Redbird lead with her first home run of the day, with a solo shot into left field. In the fourth Hutchison came back up and struck again with a one-out double down the left field line. After Tia Blosser popped up to short, Brittany Eason cut Illinois State's lead to two with a two-out double into right field.
That would be it though for the UTC offense, as Illinois State responded with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the fourth to increase its lead to 6-2. The Redbirds plated two more in the bottom of the sixth to go up 8-2, which was the final tally.
The Lady Mocs will wrap up the Littlewood Classic on Sunday with Big Ten opponent Iowa. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. ET from Farrington Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Live stats for the contest will be available on GoMocs.com.
