Courtesy: GoMocs.com

Senior Kandice Irwin threw a complete-game four hitter against the Cougars with two strikeouts.

Chattanooga at College of Charleston April 17, 2011

Charleston, S.C. (Patriots Point)
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
UTC (29-12, 11-3)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
CofC (28-16, 8-9)	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0

WP: Alexa Datko (15-5) LP: Kandice Irwin (8-3)

 

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team was unable to solve the College of Charleston on Sunday as the Cougars completed the series sweep with a 1-0 win. The lone run scored on the afternoon was unearned as senior pitcher Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) received the start and responded by throwing a complete game four-hitter, while striking out two.

For the third game in a row, the Lady Mocs had opportunities to score, but could not come through with runners in scoring position and left six runners on the base paths.

Alexa Datko tossed her second complete-game shutout over Chattanooga this weekend and notched two strikeouts to improve to 15-5 on the year. Charleston improved to 28-16 and 8-9 in the Southern Conference, while Chattanooga fell to 29-11 overall and 11-3 in league play.

Notching the first hit of the game for Chattanooga in the second inning was sophomore first baseman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.), who pulled a ball to right for a single.

Senior centerfielder Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) drew a walk in the third and stole her 26th base of the season, but would be stranded.

The Cougars scored the first run of the contest in the second as Pesature singled to right and the Lady Mocs were unable to make a clean play on a sacrifice bunt attempt that put two runners on without an out. Charleston plated Pesature on back-to-back groundouts to second as she slide just past the tag of junior catcher Vivian Morimoto.

In the fourth, Baker doubled off the fence in left and freshman Layne Rainey (Clarksville, Tenn.) came in as a pinch runner. Morimoto drew a walk, but the Lady Mocs were able to capitalize on the opportunity with two runners on base.

With two outs during the fifth, Stiles started a two out rally with a double into the right center gap and then sophomore second baseman Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.) was hit by a pitch. Senior designated player Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) was robbed of extra bases on a liner caught by the second baseman Hillary Stringer, who took two steps towards second and dove to catch the ball.

Another opportunity occurred in the sixth as Morimoto singled down the left field line with one out, but an unsuccessful sacrifice bunt was popped up and caught by the pitcher Datko, who doubled off freshman pinch runner Kaiti Dutton (Chandler, Ariz.) at first.

Charleston looked poised to add an insurance run as Kelsi Hodgson tripled down the right field line with two outs, but Irwin forced a fly out to center to end the frame.

The Lady Mocs continue their South Carolina road trip next weekend with a series against Furman. The doubleheader is set for Friday at 1 p.m., while the first pitch for the finale on Saturday is slated for 1 p.m. Live stats and an audio broadcast are available via the softball schedule page at GoMocs.com, the official website of Chattanooga Athletics.

Chattanooga returns to Frost Stadium to complete its home slate on April 30 with a single game against Georgia Southern beginning at 6 p.m. Senior Day  as the Lady Mocs recognize their six seniors is set for May 1 with the first pitch of a  doubleheader slated for Noon.

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