Courtesy: GoMocs.com
Sophomore second baseman Sara Poteat made two great plays defensively for the Lady Mocs.
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Chattanooga at Elon
April 3, 2011
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Elon, N.C. (East Field)
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UTC (25-8, 7-0)
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3
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4
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1
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| Elon (15-13, 2-7) |
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6
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WP: Fuzzard (11-5) LP: O'Shea (6-6) S: Waters (1)
ELON, N.C. - A three-run home run by junior shortstop Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.) provided the offense for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team and stellar play defensively helped in a 3-1 victory Sunday over Elon at East Field to clinch the series sweep.
The Lady Mocs defense took at least four hits away from the Phoenix to improve to 25-8 overall and 8-0 in the Southern Conference, while Elon fell to 15-14 and 2-7 in the league. Senior outfielder Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) made the first play on a diving catch in right center, sophomore second baseman Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.) made two brilliant plays and junior pitcher Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) made an off-balance throw to first in helping the Chattanooga defense keep runners off the base paths and preserve the victory.
Improving to 11-5 on the season was Fuzzard, who went 4.0 innings and struck out two. Senior hurler Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) came on in relief to shut down the Phoenix with two strikeouts and earning her first save as a Lady Moc. Waters notched two saves with Southern Illinois in her freshman year.
The Phoenix out-hit Chattanooga 4-to-6 in the contest, but were unable to produce runs. It was just the second time this year that the Lady Mocs were out hit in registering a victory with the first being against Samford.
In the bottom of the first, Stiles made a diving stab coming in on a ball in right center for the first out of the game setting the stage for Chattanooga defensively.
A two-out rally was started by Harrison in the second by singling through the hole on the left side. Following a walk to Morimoto, Traxler put the Lady Mocs on top with a home run to left. It was her third blast of the season.
With a 3-0 lead, the Lady Mocs defense continued to impress in the second as Poteat saved a hit by getting a glove on a grounder behind first and backhanded a throw to Tydingco covering first for the second out of the inning. Fuzzard notched her second strikeout of the game to end the frame.
After Poteat make a diving catch on a liner towards the first base line, Fuzzard took a hit off the shin, regrouped by picking up the ball behind her and fired an off-balance throw to get the speedy Tomeka Watson at first.
With one out in the third, Poteat doubled on a ball that one hopped the fence in center, but the Lady Mocs were unable to extend their lead.
Chattanooga loaded the bases in the fourth on a hit batter and two walks, but Elon turned a triple play as a liner that appeared to be caught by third baseman Caitlin McGowan was ruled to have hit the field and two Lady Mocs were tagged out on the play.
Leading off the fourth for the Phoenix was Emerald Graham with a home run to left center. It was her sixth of the season.
After Elon seemed to gain some momentum following a single by Pam DelPizzo, Chattanooga erased it when Poteat turned a double play on a ball hit to Traxler at short.
In the fifth, a leadoff single by Kaitlin Piazzola chased Fuzzard from the circle and Waters was able to retire the side on the next three hitters.
The Phoenix threatened again as Watson led off the sixth with a single to left and stole her 15th base of the season. Following a one-out walk, Waters was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout and groundout.
In its last at bat, Elon looked poised to tie it up as Piazzolla and pinch hitter Hannah Shelton singled up the middle. The runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Jackie Gonzalez. Waters was able to induce back-to-back grounders to second baseman Poteat sealing the Lady Mocs 3-1 win.
Piazzolla paced the Phoenix offensively with two hits, while four other players registered one. Throwing the complete game was O'Shea, who fanned three and walked six.
Before welcoming UNCG to Frost Stadium for a conference series on Saturday, the Lady Mocs are off to Birmingham, Ala., for a doubleheader with UAB on Thursday. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m (E.D.T) and GoMocs.com, the official website of Chattanooga Athletics, will have live stats and an audio broadcast during the event.
