UTC-Virginia Tech Box Score
UTC-Troy Box Score
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga softball team (3-1) had an afternoon of ups and downs on Saturday as the squad split its pair of games with Virginia Tech and Troy. The day began on a high note with an 8-0 victory over Virginia Tech (2-2), but the winning streak ended at three with a 14-2 loss to Troy (3-1).
Pitcher Kandice Irwin (2-0) threw the second complete-game shutout of her career as the Lady Mocs downed the Hokies in the first contest. Freshman Jenni Martin had an afternoon to remember with her first career home run in UTCs seven-run fourth inning. Martin has become a spark for the Lady Mocs in the seasons first four games, going 2-for-3 with four RBI off the bench.
The Lady Mocs were held to only one hit through the first three innings of the game by VT pitcher Kenzie Roark before the UTC offense awoke. Sophomore Lauren Flores led off the inning with a single, and eventually made her way to third on two Hokie passed balls. Flores would score from third on a Roark wild pitch for the games first run.
Tiffany Baker would drive in Michelle Fuzzard, who walked, to put the Mocs up 2-0. Baker continued her hot hitting from last night, going 2-for-3. Through four games the sophomore is hitting a whopping .615 (8-for-13).
Jessica Traxler then made her presence felt as she recorded her first career RBI with a squeeze bunt to drive in pinch-runner Kristin Holloway. Martin then came in off the bench for her pinch-hit home run as the UTC lead extended to six. Floress second hit of the day would end the scoring with an RBI double to drive in Lyndsey Stiles as UTC ended the fourth up 7-0.
The game would end in the sixth thanks to a Fuzzard single that scored Stiles, who had two stolen bases in the game.
In the nightcap, the Troy Trojans bats came in hot and never let up with 23 hits and 14 runs. Eleven Trojans recorded a hit as the UTC offense could not muster a run until the sixth inning. Kala Moore finished with three RBI and four other Trojans had 2 RBI apiece.
Fuzzard went 2-for-4 with a RBI in the defeat, while Baker was 1-for-3 with the teams other run batted in.
Kaity Holloway (1-1) earned her first loss of the season, giving up two runs in two innings.
The Lady Mocs will conclude the Chattanooga Challenge on Sunday with a pair of contests. UTC will open with Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. and will follow with Tennessee Tech at 3:30 p.m. from Jim Frost Stadium.
