MT. PLEASANT, S.C. ? Chattanooga exploded for nine runs in the fifth inning to win its third game of the day and claim the SoCon Softball Tournament title at the Patriots Point Athletics Complex.
With the score tied 1-1 and two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Laci Upchurch drew a walk to start the Lady Mocs rally. Senior Ashlan Clarkson doubled to left field to plate Upchurch and put the Lady Mocs ahead. Tiffany Baker followed with a single, and Lynleigh Hurndon scored Clarkson on a sharp single through the left side of the infield.
From there, the floodgates opened as Brittany Eason recorded a two-run double, Tara Tembey blasted a two-run home run and Toni Hutchison slammed a three-run shot stake UTC to a 10-1 lead.
In all, nine runners scored on eight hits ? all of which came with two outs.
Tournament Most Outstanding Player Brooke Loudermilk allowed one run in two innings before giving way to Kandice Irwin, who earned the victory after throwing three no-hit innings in relief of Loudermilk. Irwin moved to 9-8 on the season after retiring the side in order in the fifth inning to end the game due to the eight-run rule.
Megen Smith dropped to 13-9 by allowing seven runs. Sam Russo provided the Eagles’ only run of the contest with a solo home run in the second.
For the tournament, Loudermilk was 5-0 with a 0.79 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 35.2 innings of work.
The tournament win is the ninth in 13 seasons for the Lady Mocs but the first since 1994. UTC is the fourth different SoCon team to win the league softball tournament in the past four seasons following College of Charleston, Georgia Southern and Furman.
Georgia Southern completes the season with a 37-30 record.
With the win, UTC (41-20) earns the league’s automatic berth to the 2008 NCAA Division I Softball Championships. The tournament bracket will be announced at 10:00 p.m. EDT Sunday evening on ESPNU.
All-Tournament Team
Brooke Loudermilk, Chattanooga ? Most Outstanding Player
Tiffany Baker, Chattanooga
Tara Tembey, Chattanooga
Laci Upchurch, Chattanooga
Nina Iduate, Georgia Southern
Melissa Laliberte, Georgia Southern
Robyne Siliga, Georgia Southern
Tiffany Harmon, College of Charleston
Terri Mesko, College of Charleston
Hannah Angel, UNC Greensboro