Chattanooga 2, Tennessee State 0
Chattanooga 10, Tennessee State 4
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In a final mid-week road doubleheader for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team, senior Brooke Loudermilk (Locust Grove, Ga.) threw a one-hitter in a 2-0 victory in game one, while junior Tiffany Baker (East Ridge, Tenn.) provided the fireworks in game two with a grand slam capping a 10-4 win.
"She gave me a pitch high and tight and I fouled it off," said Baker discussing the pitch sequence of her grand slam at bat. "But the second one was low and outside, so I just reached down and got it [lifting the pitch over the centerfield fence]."
Loudermilk struck out nine and taking a no-hitter into the sixth, while junior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) picked up her sixth victory of the season as a reliever in the second game.
"I thought we did a good job of moving pitches off the plate and had good pitch selection," said Loudermilk. "The ball was moving really well today."
In another milestone for the Lady Mocs, junior Kandice Irwin (Knoxville, Tenn.) broke the Southern Conference saves record with her ninth of the season in the first game that was originally set back in 2002. Irwin also broke the UTC career saves record.
The grand slam by Baker was the second of her career and the 10th home run of the season for the Chattanooga career leader. She recorded six RBI in the doubleheader along with four hits.
Junior Lauren Flores (Ft. Ogelthorpe, Ga.) registered a hit in each game to extend her hitting streak to 11 games.
"I am really trying to focus on the ball coming out of the pitcher's hand," said Flores about her confidence at the plate. "I am just determined to see the ball and hit it. I am focused on trying to get on base, start something, or knock the runners in."
Game One: Chattanooga 2, Tennessee State 0
The UTC softball team used a brilliant pitching performance by Loudermilk to defeat Tennessee State, 2-0, at Tiger Field as Irwin broke the SoCon single-season save record with her ninth. Driving in runs for the Lady Mocs were Baker and Flores.
In the circle, Loudermilk started for the Lady Mocs only giving up one hit in the sixth inning, while fanning nine Tigers to pick up her 14th victory of the season
With a save situation in the seventh, Irwin used two groundouts and a strikeout looking to notch her ninth save of the season. Irwin broke the SoCon save record by passing Maureen Flynn from UNC Greensboro, who had eight in 2002. She also became the Chattanooga all-time leader in that category
Junior Lyndsey Stiles (Hixson, Tenn.) led off the game with a single through the left side and advanced to second on an error by the left fielder. She took third base on a passed ball with one out, but was stranded as the Tigers retired the final two batters of the inning.
In the fourth, the Lady Mocs had a wonderful scoring opportunity after Baker walked and Flores extended her 10-game hitting streak with a single through the right side. The runners moved up a base on a passed ball with two outs, but a ground out to second ended the frame.
With one out in the sixth, senior Tia Blosser (Knoxville, Tenn.) singled through the right side and scored on a Baker double to left field putting Chattanooga up 1-0. Pinch runner Kristin Holloway (Chickamauga, Ga.) added the second run of the game for the Lady Mocs on a Flores single up the middle.
In the bottom-half of the inning, Loudermilk retired the first batter, but a fielding error on an infield popup where the catcher, pitcher and first baseman converged on the ball put a runner on first. The no-hitter by Loudermilk was broken up when the opposing pitcher Caitlin Eaton singled to center putting runners on the corners with two outs. The ninth strikeout of the day ended the frame for the Lady Mocs and Irwin came on in the final inning to close the door on the Tigers.
Eaton pitched a complete game five-hitter for Tennessee State and struck out seven, while also recording the only hit for her team, offensively.
Game Two: Chattanooga 10, Tennessee State 4
In the nightcap, Baker powered the Lady Mocs to an 8-4 lead on a grand slam as the squad went on to win 10-4 over Tennessee State. The East Ridge, Tenn. native went 3-for-3 with five RBI, while Blosser had a 2-for-5 game with three RBI and a double.
Junior Nikki Waters (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) toed the rubber for Chattanooga and went 4.1 innings before Irwin came on in relief to notch her sixth victory of the season striking out four.
After the Tigers recorded the first two outs in the first, a fielding error on a muffed throw by the first baseman and a walk to Baker put a runner in scoring position. Helping herself without even throwing a pitch was Waters, who singled through the left side putting the Lady Mocs up, 1-0. Another walk would load the bases for Chattanooga, but a fly out ended the frame.
A walk to the first batter of the contest by Waters proved to be costly as Brittany Metzger scored on a single up the middle by Caitlin Eaton to knot the score at one.
In the fourth inning, senior Lynleigh Hurndon (McDonough, Ga.) started the frame off with a single to the second baseman that was heading up the middle. Freshman Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.) drove a ball off the fence in left field showing some power to the opposite field giving Chattanooga a 2-1 lead.
Adding to the lead was Blosser drilling the first pitch she saw into the left center field gap for the second-consecutive double as Poteat scored. Then, Baker singled through the left side plating Blosser to score the fourth run for the Lady Mocs.
In the fifth, Tennessee State would get to Waters and score three times with two walks coming around to score. After a single by Brittany Webb that scored Jalisa Bradley, head coach Frank Reed went to the bullpen with the tying runs at second and third.
The Lady Mocs shutdown relieve, Irwin, was unable to stop the bleeding as a single through the right side and a groundout knotted the score at four.
To start the sixth, the first three Lady Mocs reached base on walks drawn by junior Jenni Martin (East Ridge, Tenn.) and Poteat and a single by Stiles filled the bases. Runner interference by Poteat, who ran into the second baseman, on a fielder's choice by Blosser kept the bases full with one out. The cleanup hitter for Chattanooga, Baker, came up to the plate and blasted her 10th home run of the season, a grand slam, to centerfield.
The bases loaded homer was the third time in 2010 that the Lady Mocs have recorded a grand slam. Baker joined Blosser and junior Della Harison as the players to achieve that individual accomplishment. It was the second time that Baker has driven in four runs on a long ball as she did last season against Belmont (3/19).
More insurance for Chattanooga was added in the seventh as Hurndon and freshman Kasey Tydinco (Fairfield, Calif.) drew walks to start the inning and scored on a two-RBI single by Blosser up the middle with two out.
Chattanooga is back in action this weekend in Statesboro, Ga. for a series with Georgia Southern on Saturday and Sunday. The first pitch for both days is slated for 1 p.m. with a doubleheader on Saturday. The Lady Mocs return to Frost Stadium on April 14 for a twin bill with UAB.
Charlotte 1, Appalachian State 0
Appalachian State 4, Charlotte 2
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Allie Cashion hit a two-run single in the third inning to give Appalachian State University softball a 3-1 lead and the Apps hung on for a 4-2 win in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader. ASU lost game one 1-0.
With the win, ASU improves to 17-15 overall while the 49ers fall to 24-7 on the year.
Appalachian began the third with back-to-back singles from Michelle Gorzelle and Sarah Rappe and were each moved up on Megan Rembielak's second sacrifice bunt of the game. Cashion was able to hit an 0-2 pitch for a single to drive in Gorzelle and Rappe for the 3-1 lead.
The 49ers' got the score back to within one when Briana Gwaltney hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Keri Palma.
The Mountaineers added an insurance run in the fifth, Rembielak led off with a walk and advanced to second on a Cashion ground out and scored on a McKenzie Phillips RBI single.
ASU grabbed an early lead in the top of the first when Phillips drove in Rappe with a two-out RBI single. Charlotte tied the score in the second with a Gwaltney home run.
Rappe and Phillips had two hits apiece for the Apps while Phillips and Cashion each had two RBI. Serena Smith led the 49ers' with two hits.
Caitlin Wainright earned the win while Hannah Dow picked up her first career save, pitching two shutout innings.
Appalachian out-hit Charlotte 6-4 but Carol Buchan scored on a wild pitch in the third inning for the only run of the game to give Charlotte a 1-0 win.
Rembielak, Phillips and Gorzelle had two hits apiece to account for all six of ASU's hits.
Dow suffered the tough-luck loss, allowing just two hits and five strikeouts and the one run.
Georgia Southern 1, Mercer 0
Mercer 1, Georgia Southern 0
MACON, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Softball team (20-14, 6-2 SoCon) earned a split with in-state foe Mercer Tuesday downing the Bears in Game 1, 1-0, before falling in Game 2, 1-0 at Sikes Field in Macon.
Georgia Southern was led in Game 1 by Southern Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.). Streetmon, who earned her 14th win of the season, pitched seven innings of scoreless ball, allowing only three hits while striking out four. Streetmon improved her ERA to a 1.45 on the season.
Georgia Southern plated the game's only run in the fifth inning. With one out in the inning, Kayla Brooks (McDonough, Ga.) doubled to left center and senior shortstop Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.) singled to bring Brooks in to score.
In Game 2, Mercer hit a walk-off home run off of Eagles' pitcher Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.). Smith pitched well for the Eagles, going six innings, allowing only three hits and striking out four. Offensively, the Eagles produced four hits to the Bears' three, but only two Eagles would advance to second in the game.
The Eagles return to action on Saturday against Southern Conference leader Chattanooga. Saturday's matchup is scheduled for a doubleheader with the first game at 1 p.m. with the second scheduled for 3 p.m. Both games can be followed through live stats link on the schedule at the bottom of the home page at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com. The games can also be heard locally on 91.9 FM, The Buzz, with announcers Daniel Sallerson and Justin Baker.
North Carolina A&T 7, Western Carolina 6
North Carolina A&T 3, Western Carolina 2
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Western Carolina softball (4-28) was swept by North Carolina A&T (14-16) 7-6, 3-2 Tuesday at the Lady Aggie Softball Complex.
Western Carolina starting pitcher Katie King tossed four scoreless innings, in the second game, before she yielded a run in the bottom of the fifth to North Carolina A&T. With one out, King had an easy ground out to the pitcher, but she threw the ball over first baseman Colby Liles' head to allow Britney Reddick to reach first and then advance to second. A sacrifice bunt by Hope Fletcher moved Reddick to third and Reddick scored on an RBI single by Yahamma White.
The Catamounts answered and took the lead in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Jordan Fulton hit a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Robyn Burnette. Haley Pace drew a walk and Colby Liles was hit by a pitch to load the bases. This brought big stick Chelsea Schaffer to the plate with two outs. Schaffer hit a monster hit to centerfield for a two RBI double, scoring Fulton and Pace. Liles was thrown out at home for the third out.
The Aggies tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Channing Statham hit a solo homerun over the left field wall to knot the game at two. In the bottom of the seventh, with the score tied at two, North Carolina A&T loaded the bases on back-to-back singles by Jessica Luper and Reddick and Hope Fletcher reached an error by the Catamounts. Ryanne Hill's blooper single to centerfield scored Luper and secured the win for the Aggies.
King takes the loss, falling 0-15 on the season. It is the second straight game King has lost by one run.
In the first game, Western Carolina attempted a rally in the top of the seventh inning, trailing by two runs, 7-6. Back-to-back singles by Jordan Fulton and Robyn Burnette started the Catamount scoring chances and the duo moved into scoring position off a wild pitch by Bulldog's pitcher Jennifer Luper. A North Carolina A&T error allowed Fulton to score and put Haley Pace on first but Burnette was out at third. Liles hit a single and put runners on first and second, but Chelsea Schaffer and Amber Steinhardt each recorded outs to end the threat.
North Carolina A&T got on the scoreboard first, when Jessie Larson hit a two out two run homerun over the right field wall.
Western Carolina took the lead in the top of the third inning, scoring four runs. Danielle Reese opened the inning drawing a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kristen Gay. Fulton hit a single to the shortstop and Reese moved to third and was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice that put Burnette on first. With bases loaded, after Haley Pace reached on an error, Liles cleared the bases with a three RBI double past the third baseman. Sophomore Chelsea Schaffer's RBI double to left center scored Liles.
North Carolina A&T answered with four runs of its own in the bottom of the third. Doubles by Ryanne Hill, Statham and Lillian Bullock helped score the four runs.
In the fifth inning, Western Carolina pulled within one run, 6-5. Fulton's double to lead off the inning set up the run. Pace's RBI single to center field scored Fulton.
The Aggies tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bianac Alsobrook was hit by Catamount pitcher Steinhardt and scored off an RBI single by Hope Fletcher.
The Catamounts had 11 hits in the game. Fulton went 4-for-4 in the game with a double and three runs scored. Liles was 2-for-4 and had three RBI. Steinhardt takes the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits, and falls to 3-9 on the season.
Western Carolina will travel to Knoxville, Tennessee Thursday to take on No. 16 Tennessee. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m.