Grand slam sends Samford past UTC

Monday, April 14, 2014

photo Seen in this file photograph, UTC third baseman Sarah Beth Roberts had two hits in the Lady Mocs' 4-2 loss to Samford on Sunday afternoon.

One swing of the bat sent the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to a 4-2 defeat Sunday at Samford and a Southern Conference series loss.

Samford designated hitter Madison Dickey hit a grand slam of UTC's Taylor Deason in the bottom of the sixth inning to knock in all the Bulldogs runs.

Katie Henderson had started in the pitching circle for UTC (24-17, 9-5 SoCon), and she had pitched effectively for 4 1/3 innings, holding the Bulldogs scoreless on two hits and two walks with a pair of strikouts.

After two runners reached in the fifth, Deason came on to relieve Henderson and escaped the jam before allowing the grand slam the following inning. Deason allowed four hits and struckout one over 1 2/3 innings to take the loss.

UTC had taken a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when third baseman Sarah Beth Roberts scored on an error by Samford first baseman Caroline Wilder, but the Lady Mocs left the bases loaded.

In the top of the seventh, UTC tried to mount a rally when Jesslyn Stockard led off with a single. Jenny Garcia reached base on a fielders choice and scored on a double by Roberts with two outs, but Alyssa Taylor lined out to second to end the game.

Roberts had two hits, and Anyssa Robles went 2-for-3 at the plate.

UTC will get a break from Southern Conference play this weekend, but will play a pair of nonconference games against Middle Tennessee State with a game Friday at 5 p.m. followed by a second game Saturday at noon.

Lady Vols top Aggies

The No. 4 Tennessee softball team topped No. 21 Texas A&M 5-3 on Sunday to win two of the three games in the SEC weekend series.

The Aggies struck first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second, but UT starter ellen Renfroe stettled down after that to give her offense time to rally.

After stcoring a run in the fourth, Annie Aldrete hit a three-run homer in the fith to give the Lady Vols the lead. Melissa Davin hit a solo home run int he seventh to pad the lead.

Second baseman Haley Tobler went 3-for-3 at the plate for UT (35-6, 11-4 SEC), and third baseman Taylor Koenig had tow hits and an RBI.

Renfroe picked up her 23rd win of the season, allowing six hits and three walks while striking out six for the complete-game victory.