UTC'S ALEXANDER NO-HITS FLORIDA ATLANTIC IN NCAA OPENER
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.---Beth Alexander pitched a no-hitter and faced one batter
over the minimum as sixth-seeded Chattanooga upset No. 1 seed and
12th-ranked Florida Atlantic 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Softball
Regional at Florida State University Thursday afternoon.
Two walks by Alexander (24-6) were all that separated her from her second
perfect game this season. She struck out four and did not allow a runner
past second base. It was her sixth career no-hitter, 33rd career shutout
and she continued to build on her career win mark, which stands at 77.
Paige Cochrane and Jill Crawford delivered RBIs for Chattanooga (43-13) and
the Lady Mocs rapped out seven hits and coaxed seven walks from Florida
Atlantic pitcher Nikki Myers, who was ranked No. 5 nationally in ERA and
strikeouts. UTC's three runs were the second-most scored against Myers all
season.
The Lady Mocs advance to the second round and will play Friday at 8 p.m.
against a foe to be determined Friday morning. FAU (60-12) was to have
played in the loser's bracket Thursday night at 8 p.m. against the
Alabama-Georgia Tech loser.
Chattanooga left 10 runners on base and finally broke the stalemate in the
third. Melissa Ramirez, who was 2-for-4, opened the third with a bad-hop
single over second, and one out later she stole second. Following a walk to
Crawford, Cochrane blooped a single just inside the right-field line that
plated Ramirez.
The Lady Mocs added some insurance in the seventh, parlaying three walks
and a wild pitch into two runs. Amanda Woodall, who was pinch-hitting for
Grace Pickett, walked to open the frame and Pickett came back in to run at
first. Dana Reed followed with a walk and, one out later, Jada Pescatore
walked to load the bases. Crawford delivered a single through the left side
to plate Pickett and Reed later scored on a wild pitch.
Chattanooga missed two opportunities early in the game to take a bigger
lead but it stranded five runners in first two innings.
UTC loaded the bases in the first with just one out on walks to Pickett and
Pescatore sandwiched around an infield hit by Ramirez. The next two
batters, however, struck out. In the second, Jolene Martin, who was 2-for-3
with a double, ripped a one-out single, moved to second on a wild pitch and
Teri Herbert walked, but the runners could advance no farther.
Alexander pitched a perfect first three innings, but Heather Wright opened
the fourth with a walk. She was quickly removed from first on a perfectly
executed pickoff play from catcher Martin to second baseman Reed, who
blocked the bag and made the tag.
The win was UTC's first in the opening round of an NCAA Regional after a
heartbreaking 1-0 setback last season to region champ Michigan and a 6-1
loss to Mississippi State in 2000.
Chattanooga vs Florida Atlantic (May 16, 2002)
Chattanooga vs Florida Atlantic (May 16, 2002)
Box score (NCAA)
The Southern Conference
Chattanooga vs Florida Atlantic
May 16, 2002 at Tallahassee, Fla. (Seminole Complex)
Chattanooga 3
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Grace Pickett lf......... 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Amanda Woodall ph....... 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Dana Reed 2b............. 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 5 2
Melissa Ramirez 3b....... 4 1 2 0 0 2 0 1 0
Jada Pescatore 1b........ 2 0 0 0 2 0 11 0 0
Jill Crawford ss......... 3 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 0
Paige Cochrane cf........ 4 0 2 1 0 2 2 0 3
Tara Garner dh........... 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2
Jolene Martin c.......... 3 0 2 0 0 0 4 1 2
Teri Herbert rf.......... 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 1
Beth Alexander p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Totals................... 26 3 7 2 7 7 21 10 10
Florida Atlantic 0
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Wright, H ss............. 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 0
Matthews, G cf........... 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0
Myers, N p............... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Ybarra, N lf............. 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 1
Mazzarella P 1b.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0
Piper, C c............... 2 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 0
Rogers, R 3b............. 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Freel, C dh.............. 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Shirah, M rf............. 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
Bellisari, A 2b.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Totals................... 20 0 0 0 2 4 21 5 1
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
Chattanooga......... 001 000 2 - 3 7 0
Florida Atlantic.... 000 000 0 - 0 0 0
-----------------------------------------
LOB - Lady Mocs 10; Fl. Atlantic 1. 2B - Martin. SH - Reed. SB - Ramirez.
Chattanooga IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Beth Alexander...... 7.0 0 0 0 2 4 20 22
Florida Atlantic IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Myers, N............ 7.0 7 3 3 7 7 26 34
Win - None. Loss - None. Save - None.
WP - Myers, N 2.
Umpires - HP: Marty Makar 1B: Bill Masters 3B: Sally Walker
Start: 12:30 pm Time: Attendance:
Game: UTC0516