CHATTANOOGA – The Chattanooga Mocs' softball team dropped its home finale to the Mercer Bears, 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Frost Stadium.
Chattanooga dropped to 22-25 overall and 6-9 in Southern Conference action. With the win, Mercer improved to 15-35, 7-11.
The Mocs conclude the regular season next weekend at Western Carolina. First pitch of the three-game series in Cullowhee, N.C. is slated for Saturday, May 7 at 1 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Hitting in the three-hole for the first time this season,
Reagan Armour struck a two-out double off the top of the left center field wall in the bottom of the first. On the very next pitch,
Acelynn Sellers put the Mocs on the board with a single through the left side.
In the next inning, Chattanooga doubled its lead with an RBI groundout off the bat of
Gracey Kruse, scoring
Olivia Lipari who led off the inning with a double.
In the fifth, Mercer took its first lead of the game. The Bears plated three runs, one earned in the inning to take a 3-2 lead into the bottom half. In the bottom half, Kruse began the inning with a double down the right field line and scored in the next at-bat with an RBI single from
Emily Coltharp.
After the leadoff batter reached on an error for Mercer in the seventh, she later scored on a two-out bases-loaded walk, giving the Bears a 4-3 lead. Mercer's Hannah Pitts completed a complete game, setting down the Mocs in order in the bottom of the seventh. Pitts allowed three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
Izzy Alley started in the circle for Chattanooga and got a no decision. She allowed three runs, one earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts and no walks in 4.2 innings of work.
Hannah Wood entered in relief, she allowed just the one unearned run without allowing a hit. In 2.1 innings, she struck out and walked a pair.
Lipari led the Mocs with a 3-for-3 day. Coltharp, Armour, Sellers and Kruse registered the other UTC hits.
UTC 3, MER 4 | BOX
SCORING PLAYS
B1st: Acelynn Sellers singled through the left side, RBI;
Reagan Armour scored. (UTC 1-0).
B2nd: Gracey Kruse grounded out to first, RBI;
Olivia Lipari scored. (UTC 2-0).
T5th: Madison Headley singled up the middle, RBI; Elisa Rosado scored. (UTC 2-1).
T5th: Annie Potter singled up the middle, 2 RBI; Rebeca Laudino and Madison Headley scored, unearned. (MER 3-2).
B5th: Emily Coltharp singled to center field, RBI;
Gracey Kruse scored. (Tied 3-3).
T7th: Sophie Sumner walked, Madison Headley scored, unearned. (MER 4-3).
WP: Hannah Pitts (6-14)
LP: Hannah Wood (5-7)
Notable:
- Chattanooga scored in the first inning for the 19th time this season. The Mocs are 13-6 when scoring in the first.
- Lipari logged her second three-hit game of the season.
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