Courtesy: Jeff Hurndon

Freshman Kasey Tydingco came through and broke the game open with a two-RBI single with the bases loaded in the sixth to extend the lead to 5-1.

Chattanooga vs. Tennessee Tech March 16, 2010

Chattanoooga, Tenn. (Frost Stadium)
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
TTU (8-15)	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	3	1
UTC (16-7)	0	1	1	0	0	4	X	6	6	1

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WP - Brooke Loudermilk (11-5) 
LP - Maddie Schmissrauter (3-4) S - Kandice Irwin (6)

Game Notes:
- Freshman Kasey Tydingco hit her first double on the season driving in a career-high two runs.
- Senior Brooke Loudermilk struckout six batters in game one raising her career strikeout total to 767 inching closer to UTC and SoCon leader Beth Alexander at 785.
- Junior Kandice Irwin notched her sixth save of the season, she moves into a tie for third in career saves with Tayla Trudell (1998-01) with eight. Loudermilk is the all-time leader with 10.

The victory rose Chattanooga to a 16-7 mark on the season, while Tennessee Tech dropped to 8-15.

"I could tell that they were ready to play based on how they were approaching this game," said head coach Frank Reed. "I did not know how that was going to turn out. I felt like we were going to break it open early. We had a couple of opportunities even against [Maddie] Schmissrauter to do that with runners in scoring position and did not get a hit. All that I ask for is that we have that killer instinct and come out and play. If we get beat, then I do not have a whole lot to say."

In the circle for the Lady Mocs was senior Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.), who notched her 11th win of the season striking out six in five innings. Registering her sixth save of the season, junior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) was dominate striking out three and only allowing one hit.

After two walks put a runner in scoring position, junior Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) drove in the first run of the contest plating junior Lauren Flores (Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.) with a single up the middle.

"We have had so many changes in the past couple of weeks," said Stiles. "I think people are still really trying to get used to their roles. Moving from the bottom of the lineup to a middle hitter, it puts more pressure on them to get those runs in. We saw the ball so much better tonight, then vs. Furman. We had hits right at people and finally were able to bust it open in the sixth."

In the third inning, junior Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.), the second baseman, made a diving stop towards her left to stop a ball going through the right side, picked the ball up and flicked it towards first baseman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) for the second out. The Golden Eagles were retired in the inning with a strikeout looking and groundout to short.

During the bottom half, junior Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.)  was pitched around with one out, but was erased after a fielder's choice. Senior Brittany Eason (Chattanooga, Tenn.) was hit on a 3-2 pitch putting junior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) in scoring position.

Hitting in Waters was Traxler with a single to right center and advanced to second on the throw to the plate. With two outs and a 2-0 lead, the Lady Mocs were unable to take advantage of two runners in scoring position as the Golden Eagles got out of the inning.

The fourth inning was a frame to forget for Loudermilk as Tennessee Tech loaded the bases thanks to a hit by pitch and two walks and Brooke Basten delivered a single to third cutting the Chattanooga lead to 2-1.

In the sixth, Irwin came on for the save and started off striking out the first two. She retired the side on a groundout to short with an excellent scoop by Tydingco at first.

After a pitching change by Tennessee Tech, the Lady Mocs bats finally came through with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Traxler reached on an infield single and put freshman pinch runner Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.), who ran after Eason walked, into scoring position.

Two runs scored, when Flores hit a ball to second and the second baseman threw the ball wide into left field advancing two runners into scoring position. Tydingco put the Lady Mocs up 5-1 with an opposite field double into left center plating Traxler and Flores.

A single through the left side by sophomore Jenni Martin (East Ridge, Tenn.) loaded the bases with no outs but a double play and strikeout ended the threat. The sixth run came across during the double play as Chattanooga took a 6-1 lead into the seventh.

For the sixth time this season, Irwin threw confidently in relief to pick up her eighth career save. The only base runners were on a fielding error and single.

"She has accepted the closer role and she is having fun doing it," said Reed. "You like to see the kid having fun. There is nothing wrong with the football players [in the stands] cheering her on every time she throws a changeup. She is accepting her role and I was telling coach [Shaina] Ervin, the pitching coach, that she did not know how good she could be as a closer. I think that we are just tapping her potential."

The Lady Mocs are back in action on Thursday with a scheduled doubleheader against Eastern Illinois, the second-straight opponent from the Ohio Valley Conference. The first pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at Frost Stadium. Chattanooga hits the road to close out the week visiting non-conference foe Belmont on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST.