UTC-JSU Box Score (Game 1)
UTC-JSU Box Score (Game 2)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- Despite one of the strongest offensive outputs of the season, the Chattanooga softball team was sweep in a midweek doubleheader by Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks (19-9) took Game 1, 11-9 in eight innings, and won the nightcap 5-4. The Lady Mocs have now lost three games in a row.
The Gamecocks were able to take Game 1 in what ended up being a back-and-forth battle between potent offenses. The Lady Mocs set a season-high hit total with 14 as the two teams combined for 20 runs and 29 base hits. Every one of UTC's starters had a hit in the contest and seven drove in at least one run.
Jacksonville State was able to take a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth when Chattanooga struck twice. Jenni Martin led off the inning with her second home run of the season to cut the Lady Mocs' deficit to three. UTC would put its second run of the inning up on a Kaiti Kelley RBI single.
After JSU scored another run in the fifth, Chattanooga sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom half to tie the game at six. Fuzzard started the rally off with her third home run of the season to make the game 6-4. The Lady Mocs would then proceed to load up the bases with singles by Tiffany Baker and Jenni Martin, mixed in with a walk to Brittany Eason. Jessica Traxler made the most of her start at shortstop with a RBI single into rightfield. Lyndsey Stiles would drive in UTC's third run of the frame a few batters later with a single into centerfield, driving in Eason.
Nikki Prier put the Gamecocks back on top in the sixth with a RBI single as JSU took the 7-6 lead. Chattanooga answered right back in the bottom as Toni Hutchison singled into right-center to drive in pinch-runner Kristin Holloway.
The seventh inning proved to be a rather wild frame as the inning consisted of four runs, five hits and three errors. The Gamecocks started things off with a one-out, Jackie Jarman double. Jarman scored after the following at bat as Mary Beth Ledbetter recorded an infield single. Chrissy O'Neal then got into the act with a double into rightfield to score Ledbetter.
In the bottom of the seventh, Traxler began the frame with her second hit of the day, a single into rightfield. Lauren Flores then reached on an error by JSU pitcher Ashley Eliasson, putting runners at second and third. Stiles was able to drive in the Lady Mocs' first run of the frame, reaching first on an error by Jacksonville State's third baseman. A few batters later, Baker was able to tie the game with an infield single, bringing in Flores.
Chattanooga pitcher Kandice Irwin (5-8) could not hold the Gamecock offense however in the eighth however. JSU put two more runs on the board thanks to a double by Allie Barker and a triple from Courtney Underwood as Jacksonville State outlasted UTC 11-9.
In Game 2, Fuzzard was in the circle for the Lady Mocs and came out strong, striking out five through the first three innings. Her success against the JSU hitters would not last however as the Gamecocks were finally able to scratch across a run on a Jarman single. The earned run allowed by Fuzzard (5-5) snapped her streak without allowing an earned run at 20 and two-thirds.
Jacksonville State would put two more runs on the scoreboard in the fifth as the Chattanooga bats were silenced by JSU pitcher and Game 1 winner Ashley Eliasson.
Entering the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Mocs were down 3-0 and their offense slowly began to awaken.
The frame began with a walk to Stiles by Eliasson. After a strike out by Kaiti Kelley, Fuzzard helped her own cause with a two-run home run. Tiffany Baker came up next and promptly tied the game with her team-leading sixth home run of the season.
After Hutchison fouled out, Jenni Martin kept the inning alive with double to deep left-center. Jessica Traxler would then come up huge for the Lady Mocs with her second hit of the day, a double to left that narrowly missed being her first career home run.
Chattanooga would enter the top of the seventh with a 4-3 lead, but it would not last long as Ledbetter led off the frame with a solo shot to tie the game at four. The Gamecocks would be able to put one more run on the board in the inning to regain the lead, 5-4.
Relief pitcher Kayla Collins would shut UTC's portion of the seventh as the Gamecocks captured the sweep.
The Lady Mocs will now hit the road for a three-game set at conference foe Elon. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 28. Game 1 is set to begin at 1 p.m.
Live stats will be available for the entire series at GoMocs.com.
