After Chattanooga scored four runs in the final frame of the first game, the Lady Mocs opened the next with a nine-run first inning on six hits and cruised to the victory improving to 24-8 overall and 7-0 in the SoCon. The Phoenix dropped to 15-13 overall and 2-6 in conference.
Each notching four hits during the doubleheader were senior centerfielder Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) and sophomore second baseman Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.), while Morimoto paced the Lady Mocs with five. Chattanooga registered 24 hits during the twin bill.
Freshman Layne Rainey (Clarksville, Tenn.) notched her first collegiate hit in game two scoring two runs on a single through the right side.
Senior pitcher Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) picked up the win in game one improving to 10-5 on the season, while classmate Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) notched her sixth save of the season and moved into a tie for fifth on the NCAA career list with 19.
Throwing a complete game two-hitter was senior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) to increase her win total to six.
The Lady Mocs are back in action on Sunday at 1 p.m. against Elon for the finale of the three-game stats. Live stats and an audio broadcast are available through the softball schedule page.
Game One: Chattanooga 7, Elon 5
Chattanooga used a 3-for-4 performance with two home runs and a double by Morimoto to defeat Elon on Saturday at East Field. Fuzzard also connected on a home run for the Lady Mocs.
Starting for Chattanooga was Fuzzard, who threw 6.1 innings and struck out six. Irwin notched her conference and NCAA leading sixth save of the season. She moved into a tie for fifth on the NCAA career saves list at 19 with Andrea Zappla (Valparaiso, 2005-08), Lisa Ferguson (Baylor, 2004-07) and Lori Thompson (Cal Poly Pomona 1987-89).
Adding two hits for the Lady Mocs, who totaled 11 in the game, were Poteat and Fuzzard.
In the first, back-to-back singles through the left side by Poteat and Fuzzard out the Lady Mocs in position to score first. Senior third baseman Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.) walked to load the bases with one out, but the Phoenix would be able to get out of the jam without surrendering a run.
Morimoto led off the second with a solo home run over the fence in right center as Chattanooga drew first blood.
In the fourth, the Sao Paulo, Brazil, native connected on her second homer of the contest to right. It was her fourth of the season and the third time this year that a Lady Moc went deep twice in a single game.
With one out in the fifth, Fuzzard drilled a pitch high-over the scoreboard in left. The shot was her seventh of the campaign and provided Chattanooga with a 3-0 lead.
Elon would break through with a run in the bottom of the sixth as Tomeka Watson singled up the middle and eventually scored on an error.
The Lady Mocs loaded the bases in the seventh as Poteat singled to third base, Baker walked and senior right fielder Della Harrison (Nashville, Tenn.) beat out an infield single. A double off the top of the wall in center for Morimoto cleared the bases. The lead was extended to 7-2 as junior shortstop Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.) drove in Morimoto with a single up the middle.
The seventh was lead off with a home run to left by Kaitlyn Piazzola on a 3-2 pitch. The Phoenix added three more runs during the frame for the final score of 7-5.
Erin O'Shea started for Elon and went 6.2 and gave up seven runs, all earned, and fanned six, while Pam DelPizzo recorded the final out of the frame. Watson notched two hits and scored two runs and DelPizzo drove in two.
Game Two: Chattanooga 13, Elon 2
The Lady Mocs hot bats continued in the second game scoring nine first-inning runs and went on to run-rule Elon 13-2. Stiles paced the Lady Mocs with three hits, while Baker drove in three runs.
Also notching multi-hit games were Poteat, Baker and Morimoto, while Rainey and Stiles drove in two each.
Picking up the win in the circle and throwing a complete game two hitter was Waters, who struck out three.
The nine-run first started off with a Stiles single down the left field line, which was followed by a Poteat single to third. Loading the bases was Fuzzard with a walk and Baker drove in two with a single to center.
A sacrifice fly by sophomore first baseman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) put the Lady Mocs up 3-0. A single through the left side was the six RBI of the day for Morimoto.
Two-straight walks drawn by Traxler and Flores provided the Lady Mocs with a 6-0 lead. Stiles then promptly singled through the left side and Poteat was hit by a pitch as they each drove in a run.
The final run of the frame came across on a Fuzzard single through the left side. There was only one out in the inning, but Baker was robbed of a base hit by the second baseman Jackie Gonzalez on a liner and Elon was able to retire the side.
Leadoff singles by Harrison and Morimoto in the second put a runner in scoring position, but Chattanooga was unable to add to its lead.
After Waters retired the side for the second-consecutive time, Poteat doubled into the right center gap and Fuzzard drew a walk starting the third. A single down the right field line allowed for Poteat to score and Chattanooga took a 10-0 lead.
The Phoenix responded with their first hit of the contest has Camille Hill doubled down the left field line and Carleigh Nester homered to center. It was her first of the season.
In the fourth, Traxler started it off with a single through the left side and took second on a wild pitch. Drawing a walk was Flores and Stiles drove in Traxler on a single up the middle and advanced to second on the throw.
The big hit of the inning was by Rainey, who earlier pinch ran for Fuzzard, who delivered a two-RBI single through the right side for her first collegiate hit. Chattanooga pushed its lead to 13-2.
Waters continued to dominate in the circle and kept the Elon bats quit in the final two frames securing the victory.
Taking the loss in the circle was Lauren Taylor, who pitched three innings are struck out two. Also seeing time was Kari Pervell and DelPizzo.
