CHATTANOOGA – Hayleigh Weissenbach belted a game winning three-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth to help down Southeastern Missouri State, 8-5, before the Mocs fell 4-2 to UT Martin in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Frost Stadium during the Frost Classic on Saturday evening.
The second-straight split moves Chattanooga to a 6-7 overall record this season. SEMO fell to 5-4 after the loss and UT Martin improved to 6-7 following the win.
Chattanooga closes out the Frost Classic tomorrow with a 12:30 p.m. matchup against Evansville. The game will be broadcasted LIVE on the Southern Conference Digital Network. Link can be found on the schedule page.
Full game recaps of today's action below.
Chattanooga 8, SE Missouri State 5
The Redhawks plated a pair of runs in the top of the first on the help of two hits and a Mocs error. After an RBI single up the middle, SEMO rolled a grounder to third base a batter later that resulted in an overthrow to first base, giving them an early 2-0 lead.
SEMO would add another run in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly that followed a triple to the left-center gap to build a 3-0 advantage.
Chattanooga answered in a big way in the home half of the fourth. With two outs and the bases full, senior
Ashley Conner stepped up with a pinch-hit grand slam over the left center wall to give the Mocs a 4-3 lead. The grand slam was the second of her career.
SEMO re-gained the lead, 5-4, in the top of the fifth on a pair of solo homeruns. Sophomore
Aly Walker roped a solo homerun herself in the bottom of the inning to knot things back up, 5-5.
Still tied in the bottom of the sixth, sophomore
Hayleigh Weissenbach picked a great time for her first career homerun. Weiseenbach lifted the first pitch of the at-bat over the right field wall for a three-run shot, giving UTC an 8-5 lead heading into the final frame. The Mocs would hold SEMO off the board to claim the win.
Celie Hudson (3-3) earned the win in relief of freshman
Allison Swinford. Hudson tossed 2.1 innings and allowed only one hit.
All eight runs for Chattanooga came via the long ball. Conner finished 1-for-1 with four RBIs and Weissenbach 1-for-3 with three RBIs while Walker ended the game 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Devan Brown went 1-for-2 with a single in her UTC debut.
UT Martin 4, Chattanooga 2
UT Martin jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first after a sacrifice fly to center field plated a run. The Skyhawks would add an unearned run in the third inning on a wild throw from third to first to build a 2-0 lead.
Chattanooga tied things up 2-2 in the home half of the fourth inning when
Devan Brown laced a two out, two-RBI triple off the wall in center. The triple brought in Walker and Conner who reached on a walk and fielder's choice, respectively.
UT Martin didn't let the game stay tied for long. They answered with an RBI single that dropped in to shallow center, giving them the lead back at 3-2. The Skyhawks gained an insurance run in the top of the seventh by way of a solo homerun to left field. UTC fell short in their rally attempt, lining out to end the game with a runner aboard.
Hayleigh Weissenbach was the lone Moc to register a multi-hit game in the loss as she went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. Brown finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs in her first start in a UTC uniform. Hamill, Walker and Beltran all recorded a single while
Halie Williamson notched a double to make up the rest of the team's total hits.
Celie Hudson (3-4) suffered the loss in the circle in her second appearance of the day. She pitched a complete game while allowing nine hits, four runs (three earned) and walking a pair.
