Chattanooga Softball Eliminated from '03 NCAA Regionals

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - More tough luck followed Chattanooga into Friday's NCAA Softball Regional as Massachusetts ousted the Lady Mocs, 3-2, in a loser's bracket game. The loss ended Chattanooga's season with a 37-30 record and it marked the first time the Lady Mocs have ever exited the NCAA Tournament without a victory.

Chattanooga took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Jada Pescatore and Paige Cochrane delivered back-to-back RBI singles. Melissa Ramirez reached on a fielder's choice and Jennifer Reed reached on a walk. Pescatore stroked a single up the middle to plate Ramirez, and Cochrane's shot to right brought in Reed.

"We had an awesome start," Cochrane said. "We felt confident the rest of the game. It just came down to one pitch."

Starter Sara Meek pitched well in the first four innings, yielding just two hits with four strikeouts, but three consecutive infield hits loaded the bases with no outs starting the fifth.

Senior Awbrey Winckler was brought in and got two quick outs when Emily Robustelli lined into a doubleplay. Hilary Puglia, who was hitting just .211 coming into the game, smashed a three-run homer to deep left-center for what proved to be the decisive runs.

After UTC's success in the first inning, only one batter reached base the rest of the game, and that was a walk to open the second inning. UMass starter Kaila Holtz retired the last 18 batters in a row to run her record to 22-7. She struck out five and walked two while giving up just two hits.

"Our problem was, we thought a 2-0 lead was enough and got off-balance," Pescatore said. "We didn't adjust too well to her change-up. We sat on those runs and didn't jump on her like we did the first inning."

Winckler suffered the hard-luck loss and finished the season 22-17. She worked three innings with two strikeouts, no walks, three hits and one run. Ramirez went hitless in the game, which snapped her career-record 15-game hitting streak.

"It was a trying season for us," said UTC coach Frank Reed. "In 20 years of coaching, it was my toughest season to go through with all the ups and downs. It ended today just like we started. We had good plays and bad plays. It's tough when one pitch beats you.

"Chattanooga softball is still well respected. Chattanooga is definitely a softball schools and we are to be respected every time we step out on the field."