UTC splits in softball against Elon

photo UTC Mocs logo

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will enter today's Southern Conference softball game against Elon needing a win to get the series victory at Jim Frost Stadium.

The Lady Mocs won 3-0 but then lost 5-4 in eight innings in Saturday's doubleheader with the Phoenix, who are leaving the SoCon this summer to join the Colonial Athletic Association.

Katie Henderson pitched a gem in the opener, holding Elon (19-17, 3-8) scoreless on four hits and a walk for her 12th victory of the season. She had six strikeouts.

The Lady Mocs managed only four hits as well, but they made them count. Sam Taylor scored the first run after reaching base on an error with two outs in the third inning. She scored on a single by third baseman Sarah Beth Roberts.

UTC (22-15, 7-3) added another run in the fourth on a groundout by Jesslyn Stockard that scored Anyssa Robles, and Nicole Osterman made it 3-0 in the sixth by hitting a double and scoring on a single by Criket Blanco.

In the second game, UTC grabbed a 2-0 lead with four hits in the third inning. Alyssa Taylor and Blanco had RBI singles in the inning, but Elon tied the game in the top of the fourth with a two-run double by Aly Quintana and took the lead with two runs in the fifth.

Robles' sacrifice fly to score Alyssa Taylor cut the Lady Mocs' deficit to 4-3, and Roberts singled and tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on an error.

In the extra frame, Elon first baseman Grace Eng homered off Henderson for the game winner. That was the only hit she allowed in three innings.

UTC junior Taylor Deason started the second game and gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits while striking out seven over five innings.

Roberts, Alyssa Taylor and senior Kaiti Dutton each had two hits for UTC in the loss.

Today's game is set to start at 2 p.m.

Upcoming Events