CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Chattanooga Lady Mocs softball team made quick work on the first day of the USF Invite at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla., posting five-inning victories against Canisius (4-14), 8-0, and Hartford (4-7), 11-1 on Friday. Sophomore Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.), the Lady Mos leadoff hitter, was a perfect 5-for-5 in the twinbill including her second career triple and scored four times.

Chattanooga (16-9) posted nine hits against the Golden Griffins and 11 base knocks against the Hawks as senior catcher Vivian Morimoto (Sao Paulo, Brazil), junior first baseman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) and freshman third baseman Sarah Beth Roberts (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) each had a multi-hit game.

The key run producer against Canisius was senior designated player Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) with three RBI and with four on the day to move within two RBI of the SoCon record held by Amanda Cone, CofC (2001-04) at 184. Adding multi-RBI contests against Hartford were freshman outfielder Cheyenne Willis (Manchester, Tenn.) and sophomore pinch hitter Stephanie Rieck (Chandler, Ariz.).

Tossing a two-hit complete game against the Golden Griffins was freshman pitcher Taylor Deason (Clarksville, Tenn.), who improved to 10-4 with seven strikeouts. Fuzzard earned the start in the second contest, totaling five strikeouts in posting her sixth win of the series.

The Lady Mocs continue the three-day event on Saturday with a doubleheader against Northwestern and UMass beginning at 4 p.m. Follow all the action with free audio and live stats as the Voice of Lady Mocs Softball, Tyler Brown, has the play-by-play commentary.

GAME ONE: CHATTANOOGA 8, CANISIUS 0 (5 INN.)

To start off the bottom of the first, Poteat registered an infield single and swiped second base for the 12th time this season. After Fuzzard drew walked, Tydingco reached via a catcher's interference call before Morimoto delivered with a RBI single to right field, 1-0.

The Lady Mocs shut the Grifs out in the second frame before tacking on two more runs in the bottom half. Junior Ninjja Suetsugu (Sao Paulo, Brazil) had a lead off double down the left field line, which was her first career extra-base hit.

Back-to-back infield singles by sophomore outfielder Kaiti Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) and Poteat loaded the bases. A fielder's choice off the bat of Willis scored Suetsugu and, Fuzzard hit a sacrifice fly to left, driving in Dutton to increase the lead to 3-0.

Back-to-back three-up three-down innings for Deason, including a strike out, brought the Lady Mocs back up to the plate in the fourth. Chattanooga put the lead out of reach scoring five runs on four hits.

Once again, Poteat started the rally with a single, which was followed by Willis a single up the middle, placing runners on the corners. A hard-hit Fuzzard single to center field cleared the bases and advanced to second on the throw.

After Tydingco and Morimoto reached on base on balls, freshman outfielder Nicole Osterman (Kissimmee, Fla.) singled to left field, bringing in freshman pinch runner Haylee Blalock (Chattanooga, Tenn.) across the plate.

Then, Roberts drew a bases-loaded walk to force Tydingco home. Suetsugu capped the scoring in the frame with a sacrifice fly to left scoring Morimoto.

Deason then struck out two Canisius batters and forced a ground out to seal the Lady Mocs five-inning victory.

Lauryn Chris and Michlle DelPrince notched the two hits for the Griffs. Combining in the circle were Caroline Main and Corinne Schaus in tossing five frames.

GAME TWO: CHATTANOOGA 11, HARTFORD 1 (5 Inn.)

Hartford drew first blood off Fuzzard in the circle during the first inning. The Hawks notched two infield singles and a wild pitch to take the early lead, but the fifth-year senior would find her footing and leave the bases loaded after notching a strike out to retire the side.

Chattanooga retaliated with a run of its own in the bottom-half as Poteat lead off the inning with a triple. Willis then stepped to the plate and brought Poteat home on a sacrifice fly ball to right field.

The Lady Mocs struck again in the second inning with senior shortstop Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.)  reaching base on an error. Back-to-back freshmen singles from Osterman and Roberts drove home.

A sacrifice fly to right center by sophomore catcher Natalie Powers (Glenpool, Okla.) scored Osterman from third. Poteat walked and immediately stole second base with Willis at the plate. The freshman delivered with a RBI single to right field to bring Roberts home, capping the Chattanooga scoring, 4-1.

During the third, Chattanooga added two runs on three hits. Morimoto smashed a homerun to right field, her team-leading eighth of the season, to tack on a quick run off one swing of the bat. Traxler and Rieck coaxed walks, and Roberts drove her second hit of the game to centerfield scoring one, 6-1. 

A single off the bat of Poteat, her fifth hit of the day, began the fifth frame and Willis reached on a fielding mistake by the second baseman. Fuzzard singled through the right side to score Poteat, moving Willis over to third base, and Blalock came in to pinch run for Fuzzard.

Notching her second hit of the game was Tydingco, who laced a single down the left field line to drive in Willis and advance Blalock to third base. Morimoto claimed her second hit of the day to load the bases. Scoring on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Traxler was Blalock.

Then, a clutch double was delivered by Rieck down the right field line to drive Morimoto and Tydingco home. The double was the first of the sophomore's career and first two-RBI game of the season.

Fuzzard retired the Hartford top of the order to complete the five-inning contest. The 11-1 win is the ninth run ruled game of the season for the Lady Mocs, eighth in just five inning decisions.

The three hits by Hartford were by Amber Andres, Devynne Butler and Jackie Kelley, while the duo of Kaitlyn Meade (0-4) and Ana Alberti combined for one strikeout in the circle.