UTC-Tennessee State Box Score (Game 1)
UTC-Tennessee State Box Score (Game 2)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- Thanks to two big innings in Game 2 of a double header with Tennessee State, the Chattanooga softball team was able to split with the Tigers on Wednesday afternoon. The Lady Mocs (17-16/7-2 SoCon) fell in Game 1 of the twin bill 3-0, before rallying back with a five inning, 9-1 win in the second game.
Brooke Loudermilk (3-0) received the win in Game 2. The junior threw all five innings and allowed only one run and one hit. She also struck out six and did not walk a single batter.
In the nightcap, Chattanooga was able to pull away with a five-run third inning, highlighted by two-run hits by Toni Hutchison and Lynleigh Hurndon. The Lady Mocs sent 11 batters to the plate in the frame, tallying five hits along the way. Hutchison and Hurndon both had career-tying games as the two had four and three RBI respectively.
Lauren Flores led off the game-changing inning with her third hit of the double dip, a single through the left side of the infield. After a Lyndsey Stiles single sent Flores to second, Kaiti Kelley reached on an infield hit.
A fielder's choice later, Tiffany Baker gave the Lady Mocs its first run of the day on a single into left. With runners at first and second, Hutchison kept the two-out rally going with a ringing double into left-center, bringing in Fuzzard and Baker. With the score 3-0, Chattanooga was not done as Brittany Eason drew a walk and Jessica Traxler reached on an error. Hurndon finished off the scoring in the inning with a two-run single up the middle as UTC led 5-0 after three innings.
In the top of the fourth, the Tigers took one of the runs back on a Caitlin Eaton home run, her second of the day. The four-bagger broke up a no-hitter for UTC starter Brooke Loudermilk (3-0), who had gone three and two-thirds of an inning without allowing a base hit.
In the bottom half of the frame, Chattanooga got one of the runs back, plus three as the Lady Mocs' offense produced four more runs. The inning began with singles from Kelley and Fuzzard, before Baker reached on an error to load the bases.
Hutchison stepped in next and drove in two more runs with her second double of the day to put UTC up 7-1. Brittany Eason then continued the hit parade with her fifth double of the season, driving in Baker. The Lady Mocs would push across its ninth run of the contest a few batters later thanks to a fielder's choice from Hurndon.
In the fifth, the Tiger hitters could not get anything done off Loudermilk as the right-hander sat TSU down in order with two strikeouts in the inning for the 9-1 victory.
In Game 1, Tennessee State was able to shut down the UTC offense to take the contest 3-0. Caitlin Eaton (9-6) threw a complete-game shutout for TSU as the righty allowed only five Chattanooga hits. Michelle Fuzzard (6-6) took the loss for UTC, allowing three runs, two earned, in three innings.
The Tigers struck first in the contest with two runs in the second inning. Caitlin Eaton led off the frame with her 10th home run of the season, a solo shot to left field. Royesha Goodman followed Eaton with a single down the leftfield line to give TSU its second hit of inning.
After a stolen base by pinch-runner Jill Gardner, the Lady Mocs gave the Tigers a run as pitcher Fuzzard threw a ball away on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Christy Hill.
In the fourth, Tennessee State padded its lead with another run thanks to a run scoring double from Hill. The two-bagger drove in Goodman, who had reached on a double of her own. That would be the final batter Fuzzard would face as Kandice Irwin came in for the final four innings. Irwin allowed only two hits and struck out six in relief.
The Lady Mocs would string together a small rally in the fifth as Jessica Traxler walked, followed by Lauren Flores reaching on her second single of the afternoon. The innings would not come into fruition however as Eaton was able to retire the next two UTC hitters.
That would be the biggest threat UTC made as Eaton allowed only one more baserunner for the remainder off the game.
Next up for the Lady Mocs will be a trip to Cullowhee, N.C. for a three-game set with Western Carolina. The series will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 4 at 1 p.m.
The next home game for UTC will be on Friday, Apr. 10 as Chattanooga hosts Appalachian State. First pitch will be at 6 p.m. from Jim Frost Stadium.
Live stats for all of Chattanooga's games will be available at GoMocs.com.
