CHATTANOOGA --- The Chattanooga Mocs softball team earned a doubleheader split against Western Carolina during the Southern Conference opening weekend on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Catamounts 8-0 in game one before falling 2-0 in the second game inside Jim Frost Stadium.
 
With rain forcing a postponement of yesterday's originally scheduled doubleheader, the series was shortened from three games to two. Following the split, Chattanooga moves to 5-16 overall and 1-1 in league action. WCU moves to 6-16 overall and 1-1 in the SoCon.
 
Full game recaps are below.
 
GM1: UTC 8, WCU 0 (5) | BOX
Chattanooga struck early in the first inning after Emily Coltharp led off with a double and later came around to score on a wild pitch with two outs, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.
 
After a scoreless second inning, UTC exploded with a six-run bottom of the third to break open a 7-0 lead. Hayleigh Weissenbach started the scoring with a two-run single to right before Adison Keylon dropped in an RBI single. Liz Rodebaugh capped off the huge inning with her first career homerun, a three-run shot over the left field fence.
 
Rodebaugh continued her hot game at the plate in the bottom of the fifth, driving in the game-winning run with an RBI triple to the gap in right center. The run secured an 8-0 mercy rule victory.
 
Starting pitcher Hannah Wood (3-4) was flawless in her 15^th start of the season, allowing just two hits all game while striking out a career-high five. It marked her first career complete game shutout and notched her third win of the season.

Chattanooga recorded eight hits as a team with seven different Mocs picking up a hit. Rodebaugh posted the lone multi-hit effort, going 2-for-3 with a homerun, triple and four RBI. Coltharp finished 1-for-2 with a pair of runs scored, extending her hit streak to four games. Weissenbach went 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI.

SCORING PLAYS
B1st: Kailey Snell advanced to third; Emily Coltharp scored on a wild pitch. (UTC 1-0)
B3rd: Hayleigh Weissenbach singled to right field, advanced to second on the throw, 2 RBI (1-1 BK); Kailey Snell scored; Emily Coltharp scored. (UTC 3-0)
B3rd: Adison Keylon singled to right center, RBI (0-0); Kendall Andrews advanced to second; Hayleigh Weissenbach scored. (UTC 4-0)
B3rd: Liz Rodebaugh homered to left center, 3 RBI (2-2 BFFFFB); Adison Keylon scored; Kendall Andrews scored. (UTC 7-0)
B5th: Liz Rodebaugh tripled to right center, RBI (1-0 B); Sidney Swantic scored. (UTC 8-0)

GM2: WCU 2, UTC 0 | BOX
Starting pitchers Brooke Parrott (UTC) and Jayme Eilers (WCU) dazzled in the second game of the day. Parrott went 6.0 innings and allowed just three hits while surrendering two earned runs and striking out a season-high five. Eilers posted a complete game, two-hit shutout and struck out five batters.
 
WCU broke the scoreless tie with a Bailey Huneycutt solo homerun to left field which led off the top of the fourth inning. The Catamounts added an insurance run in the top of the sixth with a two-out rally capped off with a Myra Twitty RBI single up the middle.
 
Chattanooga left six runners on base during the game, four of which came over the final two innings. UTC left runners stranded at first and third in both the sixth and seven innings. Parrott (1-5) suffered the loss in the circle despite the impressive effort. Emily Coltharp (1-for-2) and Gracey Kruse (1-for-3) recorded the only hits for the Mocs, both singles.
 
SCORING PLAYS
T4th: Bailey Huneycutt homered to left field, RBI (3-1 BBBF). (WCU 1-0)
T6th: Myra Twitty singled up the middle, RBI (1-0 B); Kailey McNeil advanced to second; Bailey Huneycutt scored. (WCU 2-0)

UP NEXT
Chattanooga (5-16, 1-1 SoCon) continues conference action this week with a three-game road series on Friday and Saturday at in-state rival ETSU. Game coverage links will be made available leading up to first pitch on the schedule page.

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