Courtesy: GoMocs.com
Junior pitcher Michelle Fuzzard struckout a career-high nine agaisnt Indiana.
 |
Chattanooga vs. Indiana
March 4, 2011 |
|
|
Athens, Ga. (Jack Turner Stadium)
|
Team
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| UTC 12-4) |
0
|
0 |
0
|
0 |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
| IU (9-7) |
1
|
0
|
0 |
0
|
1
|
0 |
X
|
2
|
4
|
0
|
W: Morgan Melloh (7-7) L:
Michelle Fuzzard (6-2)
ATHENS, Ga. - An 11-game winning streak came to an end Friday as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team fell to Indiana, 2-0, in the first-game of the Bulldog Invitational in Athens, Ga. Senior pitcher Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) fanned a career-high nine on the afternoon.
"It was cold as the weather throughout the game was around 39 degrees with misting rain," said Head Coach Frank Reed following the contest on the phone. "Fuzzard was awesome today and I wish that the offense could have backed her up. She had nine strike outs and only gave up four hits. She rebounded today and was dominant after being a bit off last weekend."
A pitching duel ensued between Fuzzard and Indiana's Morgan Melloh as the two hurlers combined to strikeout 22 opposing hitters. Melloh with 13 strikeouts moved into 20th on the NCAA all-time list with 1,263 in her career.
The Chattanooga offense was held in check for the first time in 10 games as senior left fielder Lauren Flores (Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.) and sophomore first baseman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) registered the two hits for the Lady Mocs.
"We need to be more selective at the plate," stated Reed. "We were swinging at pitches out of the zone after we just got ourselves deep in the count. We need to just make sure that we stay ahead in the count and make positive swings on the front end."
Following an infield single and walk in the bottom of the first, Indiana's Jenna Abraham singled up the middle as Ashley Warrum gave the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, the Lady Mocs went down in order, but Fuzzard notched two strikeouts in retiring the Hoosiers.
Flores led off the third with a walk and advanced to second on a ground out, but would be stranded in scoring position. The third strikeout of the game for Fuzzard ended the frame.
With one out in the fourth, Tydingco connected on the first hit of the game for Chattanooga, a double off the wall in left field, but Melloh was able to strikeout the side. The pitching duel continued as Fuzzard matched the Hoosier hurler by retiring three in a row on strikes.
After a strikeout to open the fifth, Flores singled off the pitcher Melloh as the ball caromed into shallow left field. Indiana was able to manufacture another run in the fifth as a walk and miscue at short allowed for a runner in scoring position. Oldon singled to center as senior centerfielder Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) gunned the ball to third, but hit the runner in the helmet and the ball ended up in the dugout allowing Indiana to take a 2-0 advantage. Fuzzard continued to dazzle in the circle as she fanned the final two in the inning to tie a career-high with eight.
The Lady Mocs had another opportunity in the sixth as Fuzzard drew a one-out walk, but Indiana's Melloh was up to the task and retired the side on strikes. The final pitch of the day for Fuzzard was a strikeout to set a new career-high with nine.
Chattanooga continues the Bulldog Invitational on Saturday with a doubleheader against Campbell and James Madison beginning at 11 a.m. The Lady Mocs conclude the event on Sunday with matchups against Campbell and #1 Georgia beginning at 1 p.m.
