CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga Mocs softball team swept the Saturday double header from East Tennessee State in Southern Conference action at Jim Frost Stadium. In the opening game, the Mocs picked up a one-hit 5-0 shutout behind the strong pitching of Taylor Long and then posted their sixth walk-off of the season in a 1-0 pitchers' duel in eight innings.
 
Ava Cowart hit 5-for-7 (.714) on the day with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. Jade Gainer went 2-for-4, Baileigh Pitts had two hits, a double and a triple and an RBI and Annika Segedi drove in two runs.
 
The Mocs pitching combined to strike out 17 and allowed just two walks and six hits.
 
GAME ONE: Chattanooga 5, East Tennessee State 0
Taylor Long was one strike away from her second no-hitter of the season, but ended the game with a one-hitter, nine strikeouts and one walk. She struck out the side, all swinging, in the first inning and only faced three batters over the next five innings.
 
ETSU got a runner on to lead off the top of the second on a hit by pitch, however, with one out, the Mocs ended the inning on a perfectly executed 4-6-3 double play.
 
Long had two outs and a 1-2 count on ETSU's Addison Merritt. She threw three straight balls just off the plate to allow just the second Bucs base runner of the day. A double put runners at the corners, but Long ended the scoring threat with a called strike three and secured the win. She faced just two over the minimum and threw 109 pitches.
 
Chattanooga's Cowart led off the home half of the first with a single through the left side and stole second. Segedi sacrificed her over to third and a one-out triple to right center from Pitts put the Mocs on the board with an early 1-0 lead.
 
The Mocs added three more runs in the second on three hits and an error. Raven Jones led off with a single up the middle and was sacrificed to second by Chloe Lackey. Jade Gainer was hit by a pitch putting runners at first and second.
 
With one out, Cowart doubled to center, plating Jones from second. Segedi singled to second and advanced to second on a throwing error. Gainer scored on the hit and Cowart reached home on the error to put the Mocs up 4-0.
 
Lackey led off the fourth with a single and advanced to third on a sac bunt and single. Segedi hit a sac fly to right, driving in Lackey for the Mocs fifth and final run of the game.
 
Long improved to 8-11 on the year. Cowart went 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Segedi was 1-for-1 with a sac bunt, a sac fly and two RBI. Pitts drove in a run on her second triple of the year.
 
GAME TWO: Chattanooga 1, East Tennessee State 0 // 8 innings
Chattanooga earned its sixth walk-off of the season with an RBI double by Ava Cowart, scoring Zoe Wright in the bottom of the eighth inning in the second game against ETSU Saturday afternoon.
 
Wright singled on a high chopper to short and stole second base to get into scoring position. Cowart drove a hit that got past the centerfielder and rolled to the fence for a game-winning double.
 
It was a pitchers' duel with 15 combined strikeouts and just one walk. Chattanooga started junior transfer Sophia Guerra who struck out three. The lefty gave up four hits but did not allow a walk or run through four innings. Freshman Emery Bales came on in relief in the fifth. She struck out five, allowed just one hit and continued the theme of no base on balls and no runs.
 
Cowart was 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI. Pitts, Gainer, Wright and Mia Leone each had a hit the game.
 
UP NEXT
The Mocs close out the series with ETSU on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Jim Frost Stadium. Come celebrate Mocs Safari Sunday. Get there early and get a Mocs bucket hat!
 
There are only three weekends of Southern Conference remaining. The Mocs will be on the road to Western Carolina next weekend and UNC Greensboro the following before returning home to close out the regular season against Furman.
 
The Southern Conference Tournament returns to Frost Stadium in 2026. Make plans to cheer on your Mocs to another title!
 
FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA SOFTBALL
For the most up-to-date information and news regarding Chattanooga Softball, please follow @GoMocsSB on Twitter & Instagram and ChattanoogaSB on Facebook.