UTC-JMU Box Score

 COLUMBIA, S.C. --- Despite a solid pitching effort from Michelle Fuzzard (1-3), the Chattanooga softball team (5-8) lost 2-0 Friday night to James Madison (8-3) in the first day of the Gamecock Invitational. With the loss the Lady Mocs have now lost six of its last seven contests.

In the loss, Fuzzard threw a complete-game four-hitter. She allowed two runs, both unearned, and struck out five.

Even with Fuzzard's strong outing in the circle, James Madison's Meredith Felts (2-1) was even better. Felts kept the Lady Mocs' offense at bay, allowing only two hits, walked one and struck out eight for the complete-game shutout.

The two UTC hits, both singles, came from a Tiffany Baker single through the left side in the second and an infield hit by Lyndsey Stiles in the fourth.

The only scoring in the contest came in the fifth inning as the Dukes were able to capitalize on critical UTC miscues. With one out and no runners on, Kaitlyn Wernsing reached first on a muffed throw by Baker. Fuzzard was then able to retire Ashley Burnham on a pop-up to shortstop.

Shannon Moxey would keep the inning alive for JMU with a flare down the leftfield line, putting runners at first and second. Amber Kirk made the error hurt with a ringing double into right, scoring Wernsing and Moxey.

Chattanooga would be unable to mount a comeback though, as the Lady Mocs were retired in order from the fifth inning on. Felts ended the game retiring the last 12 batters in a row.

UTC will continue the Gamecock Invitational on Saturday with a pair of contests. The Lady Mocs will begin the day with an 11 a.m. game against Troy and will wrap up the afternoon against the host South Carolina at 3 p.m. Live stats for both will be available at GoMocs.com. Live audio will be provided for Chattanooga's game against South Carolina and can be accessed here.