The Chattanooga Mocs softball team swept Western Carolina on Sunday, winning 4-3 and 12-2 in five innings at Cullowhee, N.C. UTC takes the series 2-1 against the Catamounts, improving to 22-20 and 4-5 in Southern Conference play.

"It just shows what we can do if we come back and play hard," head coach Frank Reed stated. "I was really proud of Kailey Palazzolo and Cori Jennings. They both pitched really well."

In the opening game of the day, Catamounts Crystal Cyr hit a home run to give Western Carolina a 1-0 lead in the first.

Freshman Alyssa Coppinger finished the second inning by catching a line drive before kicking off the third with a single to left field. Senior Sam Taylor followed with her first home run of the season, giving the Mocs a 2-1 lead.

With two outs left in the top of the third, Catamount Lily Hayes hit senior Anyssa Robles with a pitch. Sophomore Ashley Conner had a single to center field. Then, freshmen Katie Corum and Amanda Beltran were walked, which brought Robles home for the Mocs third run.

Western Carolina added one run each in the fourth and the fifth, tying the game 3-3.

Beltran started the sixth off with a single and advanced to second off the throw. Then, senior Amanda Ross made it to first off a fielder's choice, and Beltran made it safely to third. Alyssa Coppinger hit her third single of the game, bringing Beltran home to give UTC the lead again 4-3.

Sophomore Kailey Palazzolo pitched a complete game, tossing five strikeouts.

"It was a close first game, but we hung in there and got the win," commented Reed.

To start off the last game of the series, Sam Taylor hit her second home run of the day on the first at bat. After three more hits by the Mocs, Alyssa Taylor scored the second run.

The Catamounts got on the board with one run in the second.

Chattanooga had a strong offensive performance in the third inning, posting six runs. Sam Taylor made it home off a single from Robles. Conner followed with a three-run homer, while Ross hit her first career home run, batting in Beltran.

Western Carolina added one run in the bottom of the third.

Blanco and Robles both made it home in the fourth, while Sam Taylor and Ross added a run each in the top of the fifth, extending the Mocs lead to 12-2.

"Hopefully this is the start of something big for us down the road, and we can get some more wins under our belt," Reed said. "We got fired up and scored some runs."

Sophomore Cori Jennings tossed her 12th complete game for her 10th win from the circle.

Chattanooga returns home for a contest with Georgia State in Frost Stadium Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. (E.D.T).