NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Senior Laci Upchurch (Madison, Tenn.) had a career 4-for-4 day against Butler, while tying the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team's all-time home run record held by Melissa Ramirez (2002-05) with 25. The Lady Mocs recorded an 8-0 win against Tennessee State in six innings before posting a 7-6 victory over Butler in Nashville, Tenn. at The Play It Again Sports Austin Peay Classic. Junior Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.) belted three home runs on the day including a career-high two against the Bulldogs.
Against Butler, Upchurch set a career high in hits with two singles, a double and home run. The Madison, Tenn., native hit a double in her final at bat in the first game against Tennessee State.
"I was just seeing and hitting the ball really well today," said Baker "The team really has nothing to lose after facing some of the top pitchers in the county last weekend. I felt like after that experience we could hit just about anybody in the country."
Pitchers senior Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.) and junior Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) each earned a win for Chattanooga, while junior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) recorded a save against Butler.
The Lady Mocs resume play in the three-day event Saturday when they face Butler and Austin Peay starting at 1 p.m. in Clarkesville, Tenn. A matchup with Northern Iowa concludes the event for Chattanooga.
Game One: Chattanooga 8, Tennessee State 0 (6 innings)
The offense came alive for the UTC softball team against Tennessee State scoring eight runs in six innings to record an 8-0 victory. Senior Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Baker hit home runs over the center field fence.
Chattanooga improved to 3-2 with the win over Tennessee State, while the Tigers fell to 0-2 on the season.
Pitching for Chattanooga was Loudermilk who recorded six strikeouts and two hits in four scoreless innings of work to notch her second win. Irwin came in relief pitching two innings and striking out four Tigers.
The Lady Mocs struck first against the Tigers when Baker scored on a wild pitch in the second inning. Baker reached base on a single down the left field line and advanced to third on a passed ball and wild pitch.
In the bottom of the third, Chattanooga exploded for four runs. Blosser started the scoring by launching the second home run of her career over the center field fence to put Chattanooga up, 2-0.
The scoring continued when senior Kaiti Kelley (Chattanooga, Tenn.) knocked in Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.), who reached on a fielding error by the first baseman, with a single into center field. A two-run long ball to center by Baker brought the Lady Mocs run total to five in the game.
Chattanooga pushed across two more runs in the fourth, when Lauren Flores (Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.) scored on a double by Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.) down the left field line and later scored on a put out to the second baseman.
Senior Laci Upchurch (Madison, Tenn.) started the sixth with a double that one hopped the right field fence, the first hit of the season for the fifth-year player. After a walk to pinch hitter junior Della Harrison (Nashville, Tenn.), freshman Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.) pinch ran for Upchurch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blosser giving the designated home team the victory.
The first hit of the contest was recorded by Christy Hill, a groundball that died just infront of the shortstop, Traxler, while Bridget Metzer notched a double to center to begin the third for Tennessee State.
Game Two: Chattanooga 7, Butler 6
Back-to-back homeruns by Baker and Upchurch helped the UTC softball team build a 7-0 lead and hold on during a Butler rally in the seventh for a 7-6 victory. The home run by Upchurch put her into a tie for first in the career rankings with Melissa Ramirez (2002-05) at 25, while Baker blasted two over the fence at Tiger Field.
With the victory, Chattanooga is now 4-2 on the season, while the Bulldogs dropped to 1-1. The Bulldogs and Lady Mocs meet again Saturday in Clarkesville, Tenn. with the first pitch slated for 1 p.m. (EST).
For the first time this season, Fuzzard took the mound for Chattanooga and was impressive striking out eight in four innings without giving up a run.
Along with tying the home run record, Upchurch went an impressive 4-for-4 to break her career-high for hits. Baker drove in four runs, tying her career-high, all courtesy of the long ball.
After a scoreless first inning, Upchurch drilled a double off the top of the fence in center field and scored on a double to left center by Poteat putting Chattanooga up 1-0.
In the third inning after the Bulldogs retired the first two batters, Baker drilled a home run to center and Upchurch followed in the next at bat with another blast to left center.
The balls continued to fly out of Tiger Field as Baker sent a pitch deep over the left field fence with two runners on for her second of the game and third of the day. It was the first time that Baker had a multiple home run game and now has 22 in her career moving up to sixth all-time.
Freshman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) started the first game of her career at first base with Fuzzard getting the start in the circle. Also, Jenni Martin (East Ridge, Tenn.) got the starting nod at designated player for the Lady Mocs.
The Bulldogs struck for two runs off junior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) in the sixth with a single and sacrifice fly. Jenny Esparza went two-for-three for the Bulldogs recording an RBI, 7-2.
After a fielder choice brought in one run in the seventh, Butler cut into the Chattanooga lead even more when Bridgett Paine belted a three-run home run to right center to make the deficit one. The Lady Mocs retired the next two batters in order as Irwin earned the save.
Game Notes:
- Laci Upchurch tied Melissa Ramirez (2002-05) with 25 home runs with a long ball against Butler. She also posted a career-high four hits against the Bulldogs.
- Tiffany Baker's three home runs gives her 22 in her career moving to a tie for fifth all-time on the career charts with Jessica Brown (1995-97). Bake set her career high with four RBI against Butler.
-The home run by Tia Blosser was the second of her career. She hit the only other long ball as a freshman against Georgia Southern on May 9, 2007.
Fans that want to catch all the Lady Mocs softball action at Frost Stadium can purchase a season pass for $55 that can be accessed from the link above. The pass is a 30% savings off individual ticket prices, provides access to the entire Frost Classic and shows your support for the softball program.
Chattanooga plays its home opener Feb. 26 in the Frost Classic against Rutgers and Kansas starting a 3 p.m. from Frost Stadium. The Lady Mocs welcome 15 teams into the Scenic City for the annual three-day event and continue action against Kentucky and Georgetown on Saturday. The tournament concludes for Chattanooga on Sunday with a matchup against Miami (Ohio).
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