No. 7 seed ETSU 6, No. 3 seed Furman 4
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 7 seed ETSU upset No. 3 seed Furman, 6-4, to eliminate the Paladins in the first game on day two of the Southern Conference Softball Championship on Thursday at Frost Stadium.
 
ETSU (16-36) advances to play Thursday at 5:30 p.m. against the loser of the No. 1 seed UNCG and No. 4 seed Western Carolina game. That contest will be an elimination game.
 
The opening four innings of the game was a pitchers’ duel between ETSU’s Brianna Bailey and Furman’s Emme Buzhardt. Neither starter surrendered a run and the two combined to give up just six hits in the first four frames.
 
In the fifth, Jessica Odom had a leadoff single for ETSU to begin the inning. After a sacrifice bunt and a walk, the Bucs had runners on first and second before Cameron Young hit a single up the middle to drive in the first run of the game. A wild pitch would score Kasidy Dunn on the next at-bat, making the score 2-0 in favor of ETSU. Kemiah Michel reached on a fielder’s choice to place runners on first and second with one out, setting the stage for a three-run blast over the right-field fence by Sara Muir to put ETSU ahead 5-0.
 
The Paladins would get two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Chloe Fabio walked to begin the frame and scored on the next at-bat when Chrissy Fleming tripled to right field. Ashlee Lykins had an infield single after that to put runners on the corners, leading to a double steal by Furman to score Fleming and make the score 5-2.
 
One inning later, Furman closed the gap to one run. Fleming hit a one-out sacrifice fly to center field to make the score 5-3. Alex Rose Molinar scored on a fielding error on the next at-bat to make the score 5-4 in favor of Chattanooga as the contest headed into the final inning.
 
ETSU would get an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Riley Nayadley hit an RBI single to left field to score Young to put the Bucs ahead 6-4. Furman got a single from Riley Ludlam to begin the bottom on the frame, but she would not advance any further.
 
Bailey (13-11) tossed her second complete game of the tournament, striking out six batters and giving up three earned runs. Buzhardt (7-8) threw 4 1/3 innings before exiting the game.
 
Muir went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored. Young and Nayadley each went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Odom had two hits, a walk and a run scored in the game.
 
Lykins, Caitlin Goldwait and Ainsley Yoshizumi all had two hits apiece to lead the Paladins at the plate.
 
No. 1 seed UNCG 1, No. 4 Western Carolina 0
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Meredith Harwood’s pinch-hit RBI groundout in the sixth inning proved to be the difference for UNCG as the top-seeded Spartans got a 1-0 victory over No. 4 seed Western Carolina on Thursday at Frost Stadium.
 
UNCG (35-20) will face either No. 2 seed Samford or No. 6 seed Chattanooga on Friday at 10 a.m. Western Carolina (21-25) falls to the losers’ bracket and will take on No. 7 seed ETSU later Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
 
In a game that saw only six combined hits between the two squads, UNCG was able to manufacture the game’s only run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jessie Shipley doubled for the Spartans to begin the bottom of the frame. After a groundout moved Shipley to third base, Hardwood was brought in to pinch hit for Ashley Gontram. Harwood worked the pitch count to 2-1 then hit a slow roller to third base. Western Carolina went to first base to get the force out, but a relay throw home to try to get Shipley out was too late, giving UNCG a 1-0 lead.
 
Maddie Spell (11-5) threw her ninth complete game of the season for the Spartans, giving up two hits and striking out five batters. Spell allowed just two walks and retired each of the last 14 batters she faced.
 
Makenzie Martin (2-6) received the loss after throwing the final three innings for the Catamounts, surrendering the game’s only run. Taylor Norton and Tessa Juett pitched the other innings for Western Carolina.
 
UNCG’s four hits in the game came from Shipley, Delaney Cumbie, Brooklynn Maxwell and Jaden Cheek. Grace Loftin and Samantha Lagrama each drew two walks in the game.
 
Brooklynn Brewington had both of the Catamounts’ hits in the contest. Bailey Huneycutt and Juett each drew a walk.
 
No. 2 seed Samford 6, No. 6 seed Chattanooga 5
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 2 seed Samford held off a late rally from No. 6 seed Chattanooga to grab a 6-5 win, advancing in the winners’ bracket at the Southern Conference Softball Championship on Thursday at Frost Stadium.
 
Samford (25-29) will play No. 1 seed UNCG on Friday at 10 a.m. Chattanooga (25-26) will now play No. 5 seed Mercer later Thursday at 8 p.m. in an elimination game.
 
Both teams scored in the opening inning. Chattanooga’s Olivia Lipari drew a two-out walk to give the squad its first baserunner of the day. Acelynn Sellers followed that with an RBI double to right center field to put the Mocs up 1-0.
 
The Bulldogs wasted no time answering that as Samford loaded the bases with its first three batters after two walks and an error. Two batters later, Merritt Cahoon singled to right field to bring Sarah Squillace across home plate to tie the score at 1-1. Lindsey Nelson drew a walk on the next at-bat to make the score 2-1, which was followed by a two-RBI single up the middle by McKenzie Newcomb, putting the Bulldogs ahead 4-1.
 
In the fourth inning, Chattanooga closed the gap to one run. Lipari drew a walk and Addy Keylon was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Jayce Purdy hit a single through the left side after that to score Lipari and an error on the play allowed Keylon to score as well.
 
Samford would get a run back in the bottom of the frame. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with their first three batters after a walk, an error and a single. Two batters later, Cahoon drew a walk, forcing in a run to make the score 5-3 in favor of the Bulldogs.
 
One inning later, Samford continued to add to its lead. After Kinley Pate was hit with a pitch and Ansley Yantis singled, Squillace hit an RBI single to score Pate, making the score 6-3.
 
Chattanooga mounted a strong rally in the final frame. Kendall Forsythe and Emily Coltharp singled, bringing the tying run to the plate. Sellers then crushed a two-run double to right center field to make the score 6-5. Following a four-pitch walk to Keylon to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, Samford went to the bullpen. Newcomb, the SoCon Pitcher of the Year, came into the game and forced a foul out to first base to end the game.
 
Jordyn Partain (6-10) picked up the win after throwing 6 2/3 innings, striking out three batters and allowing three earned runs. Newcomb got her second save of the season in the contest.
 
Peja Goold pitched 5 2/3 innings in relief for the Mocs, finishing with six strikeouts and allowing one earned run. Taylor Long (4-8) received the loss.
 
Cahoon was 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBIs and a run scored. McKayla Cothran went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for Samford.
 
Sellers finished the game 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Lipari had a double, two walks and two runs scored for the Mocs.
 
No. 7 seed ETSU 3, No. 4 seed Western Carolina 1
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 7 seed ETSU continued its run at the Southern Conference Softball Championship with a 3-1 upset of No. 4 seed Western Carolina at Frost Stadium on Thursday.
 
ETSU (17-36) advances to Friday’s 12:30 p.m. game against either No. 5 seed Mercer or No. 6 seed Chattanooga. Western Carolina ends its season at 21-26.
 
The Buccaneers got off to a fast start by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. ETSU loaded the bases after back-to-back one-out singles by Kemiah Michel and Sara Muir and a two-out walk by Emily Musco. Jasmine Sanchez stepped into the batter’s box after that and singled up the middle, scoring Michel and Muir to make the score 2-0.
 
In the third inning, ETSU added to its lead. Riley Nayadley singled and Musco walked to place runners on first and second base. On the next at-bat, Sanchez delivered again with an RBI single to center field to make the score 3-0.
 
Western Carolina would not get on the scoreboard until the sixth inning. Brooklynn Brewington singled to left field and advanced to second on an error. Two batters later, Bailey Huneycutt doubled to the right-center field fence to bring Brewington across home plate to make the score 3-1, however, the Catamounts’ rally would end there.
 
Brianna Bailey (13-11) pitched her third complete game of the tournament for ETSU, striking out four batters and surrendering one earned run on four hits.
 
Tessa Juett (8-12) took the loss for the Catamounts. Makenzie Martin threw five innings of relief work for Western Carolina.
 
Sanchez went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk. Michel was 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
 
Huneycutt was 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and an RBI for Western Carolina.

 No. 5 seed Mercer 11, No. 6 seed Chattanooga 8
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 5 seed Mercer defeated No. 6 seed Chattanooga, 11-8, in record-breaking fashion in the day’s final game at the Southern Conference Softball Championship at Frost Stadium.
 
The Bears (19-36) advance to Friday’s 12:30 p.m. game against No. 7 seed ETSU. Chattanooga, the defending tournament champion, sees its season end at 25-27.
 
Two SoCon Championship records were broken during the contest. The 19 combined runs between the two squads were the most runs scored by two teams in one game in SoCon tournament history. Mercer broke the record for the largest deficit overcome for a victory in tournament history by erasing a six-run deficit. Chattanooga tied the tournament record for the most runs scored by the losing team in a game.
 
After a scoreless opening inning, both teams scored in the second. The Mocs had runners on the corners following a walk from Acelynn Sellers and a single by Presley Williamson. Zoe Wright had an RBI single to the shortstop on the next at-bat to score Sellers, giving Chattanooga a 1-0 lead.
 
Mercer responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Grace Prom was hit by a pitch and Sophie Sumner had a bunt single to put runners on first and second for the Bears. Prom scored to tie the game at 1-1 after an error by the Mocs. Mercer would take a 2-1 lead later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Rebeca Laudino.
 
Chattanooga’s bats woke up in the third, leading to a seven-run frame for the Mocs. Emily Coltharp scored on a dropped fly ball to center field to tie the score at 2-2. Addy Keylon hit an RBI single to right field to score Sellers to move the Mocs ahead, setting the stage for a two-run shot over the left field fence by Jayce Purdy, making the score 5-2 in favor of Chattanooga.
 
The Bears made a pitching change following the blast from Purdy; however, it did not stop the bleeding as an error and a walk put runners on first and second for the Mocs. Kaili Phillips came to the plate after that and hit the squad’s second home run of the inning, giving the Mocs an 8-2 lead after a three-run shot to center field.
 
Mercer began its comeback in the bottom of the third. Kylie Helm led the frame off with a double down the left-field line. Tori Hedgecock blasted a two-run homer to left center after Helm’s double to make the score 8-4.
 
One inning later, the Bears had 12 batters come to the plate and forced two pitching changes. Helm hit a two-run double to center field to make the score 8-6 with one out. Hedgecock, Avery Barton and Prom all drew four-pitch walks on the next three at-bats to score a run and make the Chattanooga lead 8-7. The Bears would take the lead on a wild pitch and error that brought Barton and Hedgecock across home plate, making the score 9-8. The sixth run of the frame came on an RBI single by Parris Wiggs. Mercer led 10-8 as the game headed into the fifth inning.
 
The Bears added an insurance run in the sixth inning. Barton walked to begin the frame and a sacrifice bunt from Prom moved Barton into scoring position. Barton would then steal third base, leading to an arrant throw by the Mocs which allowed Barton to score.
 
Grace Taylor (12-19) picked up the win for the Bears after throwing 4 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Taylor struck out one batter and allowed zero earned runs on three hits. Katie Rearley pitched the first 2 1/3 innings for Mercer.
 
Four pitchers went inside the circle for the Mocs. Taylor Long threw the final 2 1/3 innings, which was the longest outing of any Chattanooga pitcher in the contest. Brooke Parrott started the game for the Mocs and Peja Goold (9-9) took the loss in the contest.
 
Helm went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Laudino was 2-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Barton was walked twice, scored two runs and stole a base for Mercer.
 
Williamson was 2-for-4 in the game, serving as the only Chattanooga batter to have more than one hit in the game.
 
2023 SoCon Softball Championship
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Wednesday, May 10
Game 1: No. 4 Western Carolina 3, No. 5 Mercer 2
Game 2: No. 2 Samford 4, No. 7 ETSU 2
Game 3: No. 6 Chattanooga 8, No. 3 Furman 3
 
Thursday, May 11
Game 4: No. 7 ETSU 6, No. 3 Furman 4
Game 5: No. 1 UNCG 1, No. 4 Western Carolina 0
Game 6: No. 2 Samford 6, No. 6 Chattanooga 5
Game 7: No. 7 ETSU 3, No. 4 Western Carolina 1
Game 8: No. 5 Mercer 11, No. 6 Chattanooga 8
 
Friday, May 12
Game 9: No. 1 UNCG vs. No. 2 Samford, 10 a.m.
Game 10: No. 7 ETSU vs. No. 5 Mercer, 12:30 p.m.
Game 11: Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 3 p.m.
 
Saturday, May 13
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 13 (if necessary): Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser, 3 p.m.