Courtesy: GoMocs
Sophomore Stephanie Rieck had a two-RBI single in game two that put the Lady Mocs on the scoreboard in the fourth.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Chattanooga Lady Mocs softball team swept the Friday doubleheader against Elon, 14-11 and 4-3, at Frost Stadium. The two contests that lasted over a combined six-and-a-half hours took their toll mentally and physically, fatiguing both teams.
The Lady Mocs needed one run to stay alive in the bottom of the seventh in game two as the first came across on a groundout by junior first baseman Kasey Tydingco (Farifield, Calif.) to tie it at four. Senior catcher Vivian Morimoto (Sao Paulo, Brazil) then sent a soft grounder to the first baseman, who scooped it up, but lost the ball as she lunged towards the runner, Morimoto. Willis came across to plate the game-winning run.
Game one appeared to be an offensive affair as five pitchers combined to toss 351 pitches in the contest. Both starters, freshman Taylor Deason (Clarskville, Tenn.) and Erin O'Shea, were relieved after 13 walks in the first two innings, which lasted more than two hours.
Pacing the Lady Mocs offensively in that contest was freshman outfielder Cheyenne Willis (Manchester, Tenn.) with a four-for-five performance and four RBI. Morimoto was 3-for-3, while driving in five runs. Junior Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.) and Tydingco also notched multi-hit games.
The Phoenix pitched around senior pitcher and designated player Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.) as she drew four balls on eight occasions during the twinbill.
During the second game, senior shortstop Jessica Traxler (Chino Hills, Calif.) had two hits, while sophomore outfielder Stephanie Rieck (Chandler, Ariz.) had a clutch two-out single that drove in two runs in the fourth.
Notching the win in the first contest was Fuzzard throwing 5.1 innings and striking out three to improve to 8-6. Deason (14-7) came back strong in the second game going the distance and registering six strikeouts.
Elon was led at the plate in game one by Carleigh Nester with three hits and three RBI, while Lauren Oldham added two hits and two RBI. Danielle Lafferty and Tomeka Watson recorded two hits in game two.
The teams return to the diamond on Saturday with the finale of the series beginning at 1 p.m., with live stats and video available on the softball schedule page of GoMocs.com Fans can attend Breakfast with Coach earlier in the day as associate head coach Amy Herrington-Woodard is the guest speaker in the interactive event that begins at 8:30 a.m. at Wally's Restaurant.
GAME ONE: CHATTANOOGA 14, ELON 11
In the first, Watson connected on a one-out triple to right field and E. O'Shea drove her home with two outs on a throwing mistake by the Lady Mocs. Following back-to-back walks to load the bases, Deason notched a strikeout to end the frame.
Reaching with one out was Willis on a passed ball following a strikeout before Fuzzard and Morimoto walked to load the bases. A bases loaded walk to Traxler tied the contest at one before the side was retired.
Two ground outs and a walk started off the second for the Phoenix, but two more walks filled the bases before an error as the ball popped out of the mitt of the right fielder would score three off the bat of E. O'Shea. A single by Lauren Oldham drove home the runner, who took second on a passed ball, before Fuzzard entered to retire the side with Elon holding a 5-1 lead.
Starting off the second for the Lady Mocs was Rieck with a single to center and a fielding mistake put on sophomore outfielder Layne Rainey (Clarksville, Tenn.) without an out. A walk to Poteat loaded the bases before Willis singled in two runs with a liner to center.
The bases became loaded again as Fuzzard and Tydingco drew walks before E. O'Shea was relieved by sister, Caitlin O'Shea. Morimoto tallied a RBI with a walk before Traxler sent a pitch through the right side to tie it at five. The go-ahead run scored on a fielder's choice without an out being recorded. C. O'Shea used her glove to get the Phoenix out of the inning with two groundouts and snatching a liner.
Fuzzard made quick work in the top of the third. Leading off the bottom-half was Willis with a single through the left side and immediately swiped second. A groundout moved her to third before Morimoto drove in the runner with a single up the middle, 8-5.
The contest progressed at a steady rate until the bottom of the fifth, where Chattanooga added four runs, increasing the score to 12-5. Poteat and Willis each beat-out infield singles before Fuzzard was walked. A drop by the first baseman on throw from second plated a run off the bat of Tydingco.
Morimoto added a run on a single through the left side before Traxler drove in one on a groundout. Converting on a bunt single was freshman third baseman Sarah Beth Roberts (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) plating the final run of the frame, but the Lady Mocs were unable to score one more run, which would have implemented the eight-run rule.
Elon was given a second life and Nester singled to center before Kaitlyn Pazzolla hit a base knock to left. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs before a walk loaded the bases.
Johanna Spencer was the next to the plate and hit a high pop fly that second baseman Poteat was unable to handle in front of the bag at first. A collision between Poteat and Spencer had both players on the ground as three runs came around to score, 12-8. Both players were evaluated by the medical staff and removed from the game.
Bouncing right back was Chattanooga as Willis connected on a one-out triple down the right field line. Following a walk to Fuzzard, Morimoto drove them both home with a double into the gap in right center.
In the seventh, a one-out rally started for Elon on a single through the right side by Nester. E. O'Shea drove her home with a double down the left field line. Back-to-back singles by Oldham and Lafferty plated another run. A throwing error that landed in the Elon dugout moved runners to second and third as the score became 14-11 before third baseman Roberts picked up a grounder to record the final out.
GAME TWO: CHATTANOOGA 4, ELON 3
Starting off the Phoenix in the first was Watson with a double down the left field line. Once again, E. O'Shea put her team on top with a single to left.
Chattanooga registered its first hit in the second as Traxler sent a shot to left and Roberts singled to the pitcher.
Leading off the fourth for the Lady Mocs was Morimoto and Traxler with consecutive singles to right field. Both runners advanced a base on a passed ball before Rieck singled down the right field line to put the Lady Mocs up, 2-1.
A one-out walk was drawn by Aly Quinatana to begin the fifth before a second runner reached base on a fielding miscue. Another error allowed a run to score and put two runners in scoring position. Singling to left was Watson to put the Phoenix on top, 3-2.
Elon would hold the lead until the seventh when Rainey lead off the frame by reaching first on a wild pitch following a strikeout. Junior second baseman Ninjja Suetsugu (Sao Paulo, Brazil) laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position.
Reaching on an error was Willis to place runners at the corners before Fuzzard drew a walk to load the bases. A groundout by Tydingco tied the contest at three for the second out. Morimoto sent a roller up the first base line that the fielder picked up and dropped when making the tag, allowing the game-winning run to score, 4-3.
