chattanooga MOCS

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- Chattanooga jumped out to an early lead and never looked back on Senior Day Sunday, run-ruling Furman 11-3 in five innings at Jim Frost Stadium to close out the regular season on a four-game winning streak.
 
The Mocs struck for five runs in the first inning and added four more in the second to seize control. Chloe Lackey delivered the biggest blow early, cranking a bases-clearing double to center in the opening frame. Jade Gainer and Raven Jones also drove in runs as Chattanooga capitalized on three Furman errors over the first two innings.
 
Chattanooga finished with 11 hits and left no doubt, tacking on two more runs in the fifth to end the contest under the run rule. Baileigh Pitts went 2-for-3 with an RBI, Gainer went 1-for-2 with three RBIs, Lackey finished 2-for-2 with four RBIs, and Abi Bunt added a double as part of the balanced attack.
 
With two outs in the first, Pitts singled to right field and an error at third put Anna Dovey on. Abi Bunt loaded the bases on a hit by pitch and Jade Gainer walked to plate the first run for the Mocs.
 
Lackey belted a double to the fence in center field, clearing the bags to make it a 4-0 game. The Mocs picked up a fifth run in the inning on a hit to first that was lost in the sun behind the bag. With two outs, Lackey was on the run and scored easily.
 
In the second, Ava Cowart, the Mocs lead off runner, once again led off and singled to shallow center field. She stole second and advanced to third on a hit up the middle by Annika Segedi. Baileigh Pitts hit to center was caught at the wall, diving in Cowart to make it 6-0 on a sac fly.
 
Dovey once again reached on a fielding error to put runners at the corners and Bunt reached on an error by third to load it up. Jade Gainer drove in two runs to make it 8-0 on a double to center. Lackey was hit by a pitch to load the bases and, with two outs, Jones drew a walk to plate run number nine.
 
The Mocs gave up three runs in the fifth to force a bottom of the inning. Furman had five hits, scored three runs and stranded three with a ground out to end the scoring threat.
 
Baileigh Pitts singled on a hart hit up the middle and Abi Pikas came in to run. She stole second and took third on a ground out. With two outs, Abi Bunt sent a screamer down the left side, scoring Pikas to make it 10-3. Gainer drew a walk to put two runners on and pinch runner Izzy Carlyle in scoring position at second. Lackey singled to center for the Mocs third straight walk-off.
 
In the circle, Taylor Long allowed one hit and no runs over two innings before Emery Bales finished the job, picking up the win. Furman was limited to six hits overall.
                                                                                                                                        
The victory improved Chattanooga to 22-27-1 overall and 10-11 in Southern Conference play, while Furman dropped to 13-39 and 5-16 in league action.
 
The two teams will meet again on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in the opening game of the Southern Conference Tournament at Frost Stadium. Chattanooga finished the season fifth while Furman is eighth. The game is a single elimination with the winner moving on to face No. 4 Wofford at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday.
 
Before the game, Chattanooga honored its nine seniors including pitcher Taylor Long, first baseman Baileigh Pitts and shortstop Zoe Wright along with Anna Dovey, Raven Jones, Jade Gainer, Shayna Glass, Emma Sam Reed and Grace Hixson.
 
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.