The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team lost its third straight game to league-leading UNCG 10-2 in Southern Conference action at Frost Stadium today. The Mocs fell to 21-22 overall and 4-8 in SoCon play, while the Spartans upped their record to 29-18 and 8-3 in conference action.
Chattanooga allowed seven hits, but an error and 10 walks led to the majority of the Spartan scoring.
Kaili Phillips led the team at the plate with a double and a sac fly, while
Addy Keylon had some nice plays in the field.
UNCG opened the scoring in the first after loading the bases on three walks in its first four at bats. Brooklynn Maxwell scored on a Grace Loftin sac fly to center field, but that was the only damage the Spartans could do.
After
Taylor Long struck out the side in the second for the Mocs, UNCG threatened again in the third. With two on and two out, Keylon made a diving catch on a line drive to right that saved at least one run and kept the score 1-0.
UTC tied it in the bottom of the third when
Olivia Lipari hit a single up the middle that scored
Emily Coltharp. Coltharp was able to score after stealing second earlier in the at bat. It was her team-high 12
th swipe of the season.
The Spartans took the lead back in the fourth with a two-out, two-run shot to left-center by Jessie Shipley. They added two more in the fifth to extend their lead to 5-1.
UTC cut into the lead in the fifth on Phillips's sac fly to right that scored
Zoe Wright. UNCG responded with three more in the sixth to stretch the lead to 8-2. Shipley added another home run and UNCG picked up two in the seventh to extend the lead to 10-2. The Mocs were unable to respond in their half and that stood as the final score.
Up next for the Mocs is a trip to Furman for a three-game set against the Paladins. Action begins on Saturday, April 29, with a 1:00 p.m. (E.D.T.) doubleheader in Greenville, S.C. UTC closes out the regular season at home against Samford on May 6-7 and then hosts the SoCon Tournament on May 10-13. Tickets for both are on sale now on GoMocs.com.
