CHATTANOOGA --- The Chattanooga Mocs softball team is set to kick-off the 2017 season by traveling to Clermont, Fla., to participate in the NTC Tournament for the third-straight season.

The Mocs will play five games in three days by facing Morgan State and Liberty in doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday, then will complete the tournament on Sunday against Fairleigh Dickinson. Friday and Saturday's twin bills will be played at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with UTC facing Morgan State in the season opener.

Chattanooga is coming off a 30-29 season in 2016 and will have to replace eight departures from last year's roster, including five hitters in the lineup that combined for 293 of the team's 460 hits, and all three pitchers that totaled all 390.0 innings pitched. Find more notes below.

Media Coverage & Links
Each game can be followed LIVE on GoMocs.com through our LIVE STATS link under the softball schedule tab. The NTC Tournament will provide a LIVE STREAM of the games taking place on their 'Legends Way Ballfields' only. There is a fee and options include a per-day fee or an event fee. That link will be provided under the schedule tab when available.

Chattanooga Softball Team Notes
- Chattanooga finished 2016 with a 30-29 overall record and a 7-11 mark in the SoCon.
- Mocs were picked to finish sixth in the SoCon by league coaches in the Preseason Southern Conference Coaches poll.
- UTC won all five match-ups at the NTC Tournament last season and has won six-straight dating back to 2015.
- 2017's team will have to replace eight departures, five hitters that combined for a .333 batting average (293-for-879), 24 HRs and 146 of the team's 250 RBIs, as well as all three pitchers who totaled all 390.0 innings pitched.

Chattanooga Softball Individual Notes
- Sophomores Amanda Beltran and J.J. Hamill were selected to the Preseason All-SoCon Second Team, voted by league coaches.
- Beltran completed 2016 with a .322 (29-for-90) batting average, eight HRs and 29 RBIs in 37 appearances, earning All-SoCon Second Team, All-SoCon Freshman and All-Tournament Team honors.
- Beltran and Katie Corum both enter the weekend on four-game hit streaks, carried over from last season.
- The three pitchers listed on the current roster are all true freshmen and are expected to be the only primary pitchers.
 
Morgan State Matchup (Fri. 11:00 a.m. & Sat. 1:30 p.m.)
Morgan State, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), finished 2016 with a 13-28 overall record which was the most wins in a season for the Bears since 2011. Morgan State was picked to finish fourth in the MEAC's seven team Northern Division. The Mocs and the Bears have only faced off once, resulting in a 4-3 win last season during the NTC Tournament.

Liberty Matchup (Fri. 1:30 p.m. & Sat. 11:00 a.m.)
Liberty is a member of the Big South Conference and finished last season with a 31-28 overall record with a 16-8 mark in league play. The 31 wins were the most in a season for the Flames since 2010. Liberty was picked second in the Big South Preseason Poll. Chattanooga and Liberty have met four times in the Frank Reed era with the Mocs winning all four times, most recently a 3-1 victory in the 2016 NTC Tournament.

Fairleigh Dickinson Matchup (Sun. 10:00 a.m.)
FDU plays out of the Northeast Conference (NEC) and went 12-34 overall a season ago. This will be the first matchup between Chattanooga and Fairleigh Dickinson under Reed. The Knights will travel to Chattanooga later in February to participate in the Frost Classic.