CHATTANOOGA --- The Chattanooga Mocs softball team used a five-run first inning on the help of an Amanda Beltran grand slam to complete the three-game series sweep of Eastern Kentucky, 5-2, on Monday afternoon at Frost Stadium.

Chattanooga (11-1) pitching staff allowed just four earned runs in the series sweep over defending OVC-champ EKU (3-8). The Colonels finished 47-21 overall last season and advanced to the inaugural National Invitational Softball Championship (NCIS) series. EKU returned seven of nine starters this season.
 
BOX SCORE » Chattanooga 5, EKU 2
It was a first inning rally that ended up being the difference in the series finale. Three-straight one out singles from Sidney Swantic, Aly Walker and Emma Sturdivant loaded the bases before Katie Corum was plunked by a pitch that give UTC a 1-0 lead.

With all the runners moving station-to-station, the stage was set for senior catcher Amanda Beltran. After falling behind in the count 1-2, Beltran squared a ball up and lifted it deep down the left field line for a grand slam and a 5-0 first-inning lead.

Allison Swinford earned the nod in the circle for the fourth time this season and provided yet another quality start. Swinford scattered five hits and pitched out of jams in the first four innings, stranding a staggering nine EKU runners during that stretch.

The Colonels pushed across their first runs of the game on a two-out, two-run home run to left center to pull within three, 5-2. Swinford completed the fifth inning in the circle before UTC turned to Mariah Ramirez to close things out.

Ramirez shut the door for the final two innings to earn her first collegiate save. She did not allow a hit while facing just seven batters, one over the minimum. Swinford (3-0) picked up her third win of the season after tossing 5.0 innings of eight-hit, two-run ball.

The two teams combined to strand 21 runners on base, 11 for EKU and a season-high 10 for UTC. All but one of Chattanooga's 11 team hits went down as a single. Sidney Swantic finished with a career-high four hits while Aly Walker added three in four at-bats to pace the offense.

Notable Performances: Allison Swinford (5.0IP, W, 8H, 2ER, 3K); Mariah Ramirez (2.0 IP, SV (1), 0H); Sidney Swantic (4-for-4, R); Aly Walker (3-for-4, R); Amanda Beltran (1-for-4, HR (4), 4 RBI (16)

CHATTANOOGA NOTABLES
- Chattanooga improves to 11-1 on the season to continue one of best starts in program history…  now 8-0 against OVC-members in 2019.
- In 21.0 innings pitched this weekend the pitching staff allowed just four earned runs & 14 hits…  staff holds SoCon-bests in ERA (2.12), opp. batting avg. (.231) and runs allowed (29) this season.
- Beltran finished 1-for-4 with grand slam & 4 RBI… second grand slam and team-high 4^th HR of the season…  18^th career homerun.
- Swantic went 4-for-4 with a run scored… on current five-game hit and reached-base streak… six hits in last eight at-bats … leads team with .500 (10-for-20) batting average this season.
- Walker tallied a 3-for-4 performance with a run scored… leads team in hits (15), runs scored (11) and doubles (4)… batting .405 (15-for-37) on the season… carries .350 (113-for-323) career average which currently ranks 8^th all-time at UTC.

UP NEXT
Chattanooga heads to the Sunshine State for the next 16 games. UTC will kick off the trip this weekend at the Madeira Beach Invitational and will face Villanova in the opening game on Friday at 11 a.m. Live stats are located on the schedule page.


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