CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- After dropping the opener of Saturday's Southern Conference doubleheader at Jim Frost Stadium, the Chattanooga Mocs softball team responded with an energizing all‑around performance to defeat Wofford 7–3 and earn a split on the day.
Chattanooga improves to 12-15-1 overall and Wofford moves to 21-5 with both sporting a 1-1 Southern Conference mark.
Chloe Lackey drove in four runs, including a three-run homer.
Anna Dovey reached base four times and drove in two runs.
Raven Jones was 3-for-4 with two walks.
Annika Segedi went 2-for-4 with two walks and one RBI.
Taylor Long struck out eight in a complete game gem to pick up the win in game two.
GAME ONE – Wofford 11, Chattanooga 2 / 6 innings
Wofford put together four multi-run games including a four-run fourth, to claim the win over Chattanooga in the Southern Conference opener for both teams. The Terriers picked up two runs in the second to take an early lead and added four more on four hits in the fourth. Two more runs in the fifth made it an 8-0 game, but UTC added a run in the bottom of the frame. In the sixth, the Terriers added another three for an 11-1 advantage.
Chattanooga picked up its first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth to avoid an early exit, but it would last for long as UTC could only manage one more run in the game.
Raven Jones led off the fifth with an infield single.
Zoe Wright walked and
Ava Cowart singled through the left side to load the bases.
Annika Segedi pushed across the first run for the Mocs, drawing a walk. A throw out at the plate, a popup and a strikeout ended the scoring threat, stranding two.
Abi Bunt led off the sixth with a double. A walk and a single loaded the bags and a walk put another run across, but that's all the Mocs could manage in the opener.
GAME TWO – Chattanooga 7, Wofford 3
The Chattanooga Mocs softball team used a pair of three‑run innings and a complete‑game gem from senior
Taylor Long to claim a 7–3 victory over Wofford in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader at Jim Frost Stadium.
Wofford struck first with a run in the second inning, but Long locked in from there - allowing just five hits, one earned run, and striking out eight across a 157‑pitch complete game. She held the Terriers scoreless over the final two innings and stranded 10 Wofford runners overall.
UTC's offense found its rhythm in the middle frames. Down 1–0,
Zoe Wright delivered the Mocs' first RBI with a two‑out single in the fourth to score
Raven Jones, tying the game 1–1.
Wofford added another pair of runs in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead, but UTC wouldn't let that stand long.
The Mocs broke the game open in the bottom of the frame.
Baileigh Pitts reached and
Anna Dovey drew a walk to putting two on to set the stage for
Chloe Lackey, who launched a three‑run homer to deep left, giving UTC its first lead of the day, 4–3.
The Mocs tacked on three more in the sixth. With two outs, Segedi and Pitts each drew a walk
Anna Dovey drove a hit up the middle, sending Segedi and Pitts home to increase the Mocs lead to 6-3. She ended up on third after a fielding error sent the ball to the fence. Lackey singled to right, driving Dovey home to give Chattanooga a 7-3 lead.
Long struck out two in the top of the seventh to secure the win. She had eight strikeouts and picked up her fifth win of the season.
CLOSING OUT THE SERIES
The two teams will meet back up Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. for the third game of the series. Tickets are on sale at the Frost Stadium ticket booth one hour prior to first pitch or online at GoMocs.com.
TICKET DEALS
Check out the Mocs Four-Game Mini Pack. Pick the four games you want to see and pay $27 for the pack. That's a buy three, get one free!
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