Story Courtesy Chattanooga sports information
Fordham 7, Chattanooga 1
Chattanooga 1, #23 Virginia Tech 0
CLEARWATER, FL - Chattanooga junior pitcher Ashley Frizzell tossed a five-hit shutout to lead the Lady Mocs to a 1-0 win over #23 Virginia Tech after UTC fell 7-1 to Fordham in the opener of pool play at the USF adidas Tournament in Clearwater, Fla.
Frizzell struck out nine batters through seven innings, giving up five hits but did not allow a single walk to get her fifth win of the season.
Chattanooga's one run came in the top of the sixth inning with Jeannie Cochran leading off with a single followed by a base hit off the bat of Ashlan Clarkson. Ashleigh Bull grounded out to second to advance the runners to second and third and a sacrifice fly from Brittney Whittier plated Cochran for the eventual game winning run.
The Lady Mocs had three hits and left seven runners on base. Virginia Tech hurler Angela Tincher, Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I Pitcher of the Week, fanned 15 Chattanooga batters and walked a pair in her first loss of the season.
Last week, Tincher struck out 18 against No. 11 Arizona State and k'd 26 Nevada batters, third most in NCAA history, at the UNLV Invitational. She came back with a 10 strike outing against host UNLV in a complete game victory.
In the opener, the Lady Mocs fell 7-1 to Fordham. Chattanooga struck first putting a run on the board in the second, but the Rams came back to tie it up in the top of the third then take the lead for good with a pair of runs in the fourth.
In the bottom of the second with one out, Clarkson doubled to center and scored on a left field single from Whittier. Senior pitcher JayCee Wood was touched up for three runs on six hits through 3.2 innings to take the loss. Frizzell came in to pitch with two outs in the fourth, but gave up four more runs on eight hits. The pair struck out five and walked three.
Story Courtesy Furman sports information
Furman 3, Kennesaw State 1
Kennesaw State 19, Furman 3
KENNESAW, GA - The Furman softball team split a midweek doubleheader with Kennesaw State on Thursday afternoon, taking game one 3-1, before falling 19-3 in game two. Furman's record improves to 13-11 on the season, while the Owls are now 13-10 on the campaign.
In game one, Jessica Mathis batted 2-for-3 with the game-winning RBI, and Blake Murray pitched three scoreless innings in relief to pick up her second win of the season.
Kennesaw State opened the scoring in the bottom half of the first inning on back-to-back doubles. Jen Hunt hit a blooper to short left field, and was able to stretch the hit into a double. She later came home on Cambria McKay's double to the center field fence.
Furman answered with a run in the fourth inning, as Mathis beat out an infield hit to lead off for the Lady Paladins. Mathis moved to second base on Stephanie Cushing's sacrifice bunt. Amber Nelsen's RBI single down the left field line tied the score at one run apiece.
The Lady Paladins took the lead in the top of the sixth inning on an unearned run. Amber Kiser reached on an error by KSU second baseman Jamie KeKaualua, and stole second to move into scoring position. Mathis recorded her second hit of the game, an RBI single to right field to plate Kiser.
Furman added an insurance run in the top half of the seventh inning. With two outs in the inning, Lyndy Wilcox hit a double off the left field fence. Abby Robertson's single to center field scored Wilcox and gave Furman a 3-1 lead.
Murray pitched three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one. Mathis, the game's starting pitcher, allowed just one run on four hits in four innings of work.
KSU first baseman Keri McKee was 0-for-3, snapping her 34-game hit streak. Brittany Matthews took the loss for the Owls, pitching a complete game, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits.
Game two saw Furman jump out to an early 1-0 lead with an unearned run. Mathis reached on an error by the KSU shortstop. Cushing tried to sacrifice Mathis to second base, but collided with KeKaualua who was covering first base on the play. The ball rolled away from the two players, and Mathis came around from first to score before first baseman Keri McKee could retrieve the ball and tag out Cushing.
The Owls tied the ballgame in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Kelley Cowart scored on a passed ball.
KSU's scoring explosion started in the bottom of the second inning, as the Owls scored 10 runs on 10 hits. KSU sent 14 batters to the plate in the inning, and put together a string of five straight singles.
The Owls continued their run scoring in the bottom of the third inning, adding seven more runs on five hits, including three homeruns.
Furman added a run in the fourth inning as Nelsen belted her fifth homerun of the season, a high blast to left center field.
KSU added another run in the fourth inning as Chelci Culberson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run.
Furman ended the scoring in the top of the fifth inning as Danielle Franklin drew a bases-loaded walk to force Amber Kiser in to score.
Lisa Lamb earned the win for KSU pitching 3.1 innings, and allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits. Vanessa Williams suffered the loss for Furman, as she allowed 13 runs on 13 hits in two innings of work.