CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Chattanooga Lady Mocs softball team and Illinois played five scoreless innings as a pitching duel ensued between freshman pitcher Taylor Deason (Clarksville, Tenn.) and Jackie Guy before the Fighting Illini scored a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh in the 4-0 win. Junior first baseman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) and freshman outfielder Cheyenne Willis (Manchester, Tenn.) notched the two hits for the Lady Mocs.

The hurler, Deason, for Chattanooga went the distance in tossing a complete-game and gave up seven hits, while striking out five.

Following a line out by Poteat, Willis singled to the second baseman up the middle before being erased on a fielder's choice.

Deason with the help of the Lady Mocs defense quickly shut down the Illinois offense through the first four innings with only one runner reaching base.

In the fourth, both teams threatened to score the first run as each squad laid down successful sacrifice bunts and deep fly balls in the outfield to move runners to third before the defense was able to retire the side.

In the sixth, Alex Booker singled through the left side to start off the frame before Deason notched a strikeout and ground out. Meredith Hackett hit a high fly ball down the left field line that cleared the fence for her fourth home run of the season.

Illinois continued to pressure Chattanooga in the seventh as four-straight singles scored one run before a walk extended the Fighting Illini lead to 4-0.

In ther last at bat, the Lady Mocs were able to get a base runner as Tydingco singled to center, but the team was unable to cut into the opponent's lead.

Illinois pitcher, Guy, tossed a two-hit complete-game shutout along with five strikeouts. Booker notched two hits for Illinois, while Hackett blasted a home run.

Chattanooga returns to Southern Conference action on Saturday with a doubleheader at Appalachian State beginning at 1 p.m. The finale of the series will be played March 25 with a 1 p.m. start. Listen to all the action with free audio as Tyler Brown provides the play-by-play on GoMocs.com.