CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Last weekend, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team opened the Southern Conference portion of the schedule with a sweep of Southern Rail Rival Samford. GoMocs.com on Tuesday takes fans through the first four tournaments that the Lady Mocs participated in this season through highlight videos that can be viewed at the bottom of the page.
The Lady Mocs compiled a 13-5 mark during the preseason with stops in Clermont, Fla., Mobile, Ala., Chattanooga, Tenn. and Athens, Ga. It was a memorable stretch for the team as they rolled off 11-consecutive wins, the most since 2008, while sweeping the South Alabama Mardi Gras Tournament and Frost Classic.
During the streak, the Lady Mocs knocked off two teams, Fordham and Ohio State, who were receiving votes in the two national polls. Junior pitcher and designated player Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) was a key component for the offense, driving in 19 runs and connecting on four round trippers. She also compiled a 6-0 mark in the circle during that stretch and struck out 16.
It was a entire team effort as Chattanooga out-scored its opponents 91-26. Senior third baseman Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.) compiled a .563 batting average, while senior left fielder Lauren Flores (Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.), senior outfielder Lyndsey Stiles and Fuzzard also hit above .400. Stiles paced the team with 13 runs scored and stole 11 bases. Another senior in right fielder Della Harrison (Nashville, Tenn.) provided some power for the Lady Mocs connecting on four home runs.
Additionally, Chattanooga came within two outs from upsetting the No. 1 team in the nation in Georgia as the Lady Mocs took a 3-2 advantage into the bottom of the seventh before the Bulldogs rallied.
Senior pitcher Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Fuzzard were named the Southern Conference Pitcher and Player of the Month for February, respectively. Weekly conference honors were given to sophomore first baseman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) (Player - Feb. 22) and Fuzzard (Pitcher - Feb. 14, Player -Feb. 28).
Chattanooga returns to its non-conference schedule this weekend in Clearwater, Fla., at the USF "The Game" Tournament against Rutgers, Colorado State, Liberty, No. 21 Texas Tech and North Florida. First pitch on Friday against the Scarlet Knights in the Sunshine State is slated for 12:30 p.m. with live stats and audio available on GoMocs.com.
Dot Richardson's National Collegiate Softball Inviational - Clermont, Fla.
South Alabama Mardi Gras Tournament - Mobile, Ala.
Frost Classic - Frost Stadium
Bulldog Invitational - Athens, Ga.
