The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team wrapped up a successful trip to Las Vegas on Sunday with a 9-3 win over Portland State on the final day of the Easton Desert Classic at UNLV.
The Lady Mocs won three of their five games in Las Vegas and improved to 3-6 on the season.
Jenny Garcia opened the scoring for UTC with an RBI double in the top of the second inning, and UTC scored two more unearned runs to take an early 3-0 lead. Portland State responded with three runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game, but the Lady Mocs offense took charge with two runs in the third and four in the fourth inning to put the game away.
Anyssa Robles homered in the third inning and finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Sam Taylor went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Criket Blanco, Sarah Beth Roberts and Stephanie Rieck each had a pair of hits in the win, and Rieck knocked in three runs.
UTC junior Taylor Deason earned the pitching victory with four scoreless innings in relief of freshman Liana Rodrigues. Deason struck out three and allowed five hits.
The Lady Mocs will make their home debut on Friday as the host team at the three-day Frost Classic at Jim Frost Stadium. UTC will open the weekend with games against Butler at 1:30 p.m. and Northwestern State at 6:30 p.m.