CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Chattanooga Lady Mocs softball team
completed the series sweep against Elon with a decisive 9-2 victory on Saturday
afternoon at Frost Stadium. Senior catcher Vivian Morimoto (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
went 3-for-3, driving in three runs, while the powe, a three-run shot, was provided by junior first baseman Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.).
Moving up to the second spot in the order was sophomore
outfielder Stephanie Rieck (Chandler, Ariz.) and she responded with a two-hit
performance and scoring a career-best three runs. Freshman outfielder Cheyenne Willis (Manchester, Tenn.) was inserted into the lead off position and drew
three walks in filling in for junior second baseman Sara Poteat (Thomaston,
Ga.), who was injured in game one of the series.
The Phoenix decided to take their chances with senior
pitcher and designated player Michelle Fuzzard (Huntington Beach, Calif.), who
went 2-for-2 with two RBI and increased her walk total to 10 on the weekend.
Chattanooga improved to 23-13 overall and 8-2 in the
Southern Conference, while Elon fell to 17-11 and an even 6-6 in league play.
Earning the win in the circle was Fuzzard, tossing four
innings with four strikeouts. Freshman pitcher Taylor Deason (Clarksville,
Tenn.) notched her second three-inning save of the season only giving up one
hit and talling a strikeout.
Elon was paced offensively by Tomeka Watson with two hits
including a double, while Carleigh Nester registered a two-RBI triple in the
first. Erin O'Shea took the loss,
falling to 10-7, as Karen Berna, Kari Pervell and Chelsea White, all combined
to strikeout two.
The Lady Mocs offense was stagnant until the third when head
coach Frank Reed challenged the team to be more aggressive at the plate.
The response was a five spot on the scoreboard with Willis
drawing a walk and Rieck registering the first hit of the game for the Lady
Mocs with a single to right. An intentional walk to Fuzzard loaded the bases.
After just missing a towering home run foul, Morimoto
doubled down the right field line to tie the contest at two. Connecting on her
eighth home run of the season was Tydingco to put the Lady Mocs firmly in the
lead, 5-2.
Making a play was Rieck to begin the fifth as she laid down
a bunt and took second on the throw that went up the right field line. After a
wild pitch, Fuzzard came through with a single up the middle as the Phoenix
defense was playing in to keep the margin at three.
Freshman Haylee Blalock (Chattanooga, Tenn.) came into pinch
run for Fuzzard and later scored on a single to left center by freshman third baseman
Sarah Beth Roberts (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.), 7-2.
Adding two more in the sixth was Chattanooga as Willis and
Rieck reached base on a walk and error, respectively. Coming through again was
Fuzzard with a hot-shot that bounced over the head of the shortstop into the
right centerfield gap to score one. Morimoto plated the second run with a
single up the middle, 9-2.
The next game for Chattanooga is on Tuesday with a 6 p.m.,
first pitch at Frost Stadium against Tennessee Tech. Fans can follow all the
action via links on the softball schedule page of GoMocs.com to live stats and
subscription video through MocsVision. The Voice of Lady Mocs softball, Tyler
Brown, has the play-by-play commentary for all the contests this season.
Highlights vs. Elon
