Courtesy: GoMocs
Senior Michelle Fuzzard is mobbed by her teammates at the plate after hitting her fourth home run of the season.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Chattanooga Lady Mocs softball team
swept its SoCon opener at Frost Stadium on Saturday registering an 11-1 five-inning victory
and a 2-1 win against College of Charleston. Senior catcher Vivian Morimoto
(Sao Paulo, Brazil) launched two home runs in game one, while classmate shortstop Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.) increased the Lady Mocs the lead to two during game two with
a round tripper in the second.
Chattanooga improved to 13-8 on the season and 2-0 in the
Southern Conference, and the Cougars fell to 10-10 and 0-2 in league play.
Recording two victories in the circle was freshman Taylor Deason (Clarksville, Tenn.) with a combined seven strikeouts in 8.2 innings of
work and increased her record to 9-4 on the season. Tossing three innings of the second game was
senior designated player Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.), who yielded
four hits, an earned run and a strikeout.
Freshman outfielder Cheyenne Willis (Manchester, Tenn.),
Fuzzard and Morimoto each generated two hits and drove in three runs in game
one as the Lady Mocs tallied 10 hits.
The offense for Chattanooga was cooled down in game two as
six players notched hits, while Fuzzard and Traxler each notched a RBI. College
of Charleston was aided by three double plays, setting a program-record.
The Lady Mocs conclude the series against the Cougars on
Sunday with a 2 p.m., contest at Frost Stadium. Check out the softball schedule
page for mobile and computer live stats and a subscription-based video
broadcast through MocsVision as the Voice of Lady Mocs Softball, Tyler Brown,
has the call.
GAME ONE: Chattanooga 11, College of Charleston 1 (5 inn.)
A pitcher's duel between two of the top pitchers in the conference
regarding strikeouts, Deason (60) and Stephanie Sailors (63), began in game one
as both sides were quite through 2.5 innings.
In the third, Chattanooga adjusted to Sailors as freshman
outfielder Nicole Osterman (Kissimmee, Fla.) was clunked with a pitch and
sophomore outfielder Layne Rainey (Clarksville, Tenn.) advanced her to second
with one out. Junior second baseman Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.) reached on a
fielding error by the shortstop.
Connecting on a two-RBI double to left center was Willis.
Fuzzard stepped up and sent a 2-1 pitch just over the fence down the left field
line, 4-0, for her third round tripper of the season.
Two batters later, Morimoto, launched a home run to left
center to increase the lead to 5-0.
Leading off the fifth was Kelsey Hodgson with a solo shot to
straight-away center, cutting the deficit to 5-1.
The scoring continued in the fourth as Osterman doubled to
left and Rainey beat-out an infield single, putting runners on the corners. One
run scored as Poteat reached on a muff by the first baseman on a throw from
short. Willis then singled down the left field line, 7-1.
A double off the fence in right center by Fuzzard plated another run
and driving in the runner from third was Tydingco with a groundout. Morimoto
came up and blasted a homer to right, increasing the lead to 11-1. It was her
second career-game with two homers, last occurring on April 4, 2011.
The Lady Mocs hurler, Deason, made quick work of the Cougars
in the fifth, including two strikeouts, to secure the 11-2 win.
Pitching for the Cougars was the duo of Stephanie Sailors,
who took the loss, and Kaitlyn Yerby as they combined for two strikeouts. The
four hits were notched by Lizzy Vaughn, Kristy
Giragosian, Allison Pedigo and Hodson.
GAME TWO: Chattanooga 2, College of Charleston 1
Chattanooga continued where it left off in the first game as
Poteat led off the contest with an infield single to short. The Thomaston, Ga.,
native stole second, the 10th theft of the season, before Fuzzard drove her
home with a single to right.
After College of Charleston stranded two runners for the
second-straight inning, Traxler drove the first pitch over the fence in left
and off the bleachers to extend the lead to 2-0. The Chino Hills, Calif.,
native now has three home runs on the season.
Recording the first double play of the game were the Lady
Mocs in the third as Fuzzard caught a hard liner in the circle and threw the
ball to first following a leadoff single by Ashton Jarrett.
The Cougars cut the lead to one in the fourth as Pedigo
started it off with a double to right center. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner
to third.
Following a hit by pitch and runners at the corners, Deason
entered the contest as a pitcher for Fuzzard. The next play pinch runner Katie
O'Brien takes off for second and Morimoto, the catcher, fakes a throw to second
and is able to pickoff another pinch runner Jacquline Martinez at third for the
second out.
Charleston rebounded after the situation with a clutch
double to right center by Carly Corthell driving in the runner from second.
Deason would induce a ground ball to end the frame.
In the bottom-half, Roberts singled to second and Traxler walked
as the Lady Mocs were poised to add to their lead. The momentum ended as
Osterman grounded in to a double play, third to first.
Willis was the first to reach base in the fifth on a single
to short, then Fuzzard sent a ground ball to the second baseman as the shortstop
turned the double play.
During the sixth, Giragosian singled up the middle before
Pedigo moved her to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two walks then loaded the bases
with one out, but Deason notched a strikeout and ground out to end the threat.
Once again, the Lady Mocs appeared ready to score against as
Tydingco led off the sixth with a single. The third double play by the Cougars, a program
record, was then made as Morimoto hit a ball to the first baseman, who tagged
the runner, and stepped on the bag.
Deason would be up to the task in the seventh with the
pressure on as the Lady Mocs defense made three plays to end the game.
Pitchers Hope Kilcker and Jen Rosene each tossed three
innings for the Cougars and combined for six strikeouts. Jarrett paced the team
with a 3-for-4 performance as College of Charleston out-hit the Lady Mocs 7-6.
