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University of Tennessee at Chattanooga: Rain washes out Lady Mocs

By: Jim Tanner
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Frank Reed

After losing two games and squandering a chance to wrap up the Southern Conference regular season title Saturday, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team was ready to play Sunday in the series finale against College of Charleston.

The Lady Mocs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, with UTC seniors Tara Tembey and Ashlan Clarkson contributing in their final home game. Tembey led off the game with a single and scored on a double by starting pitcher Michelle Fuzzard, and Clarkson drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in the second run.

Fuzzard kept the Cougars batters in check, allowing one hit and striking out four over three innings.

The Lady Mocs appeared to be on their way to a win and their second consecutive conference crown.

Then the rains came.

Storms moving through the Chattanooga area forced the game to be halted in the third inning, and the game was cancelled and will not be resceduled.

“There’s things you can control and things you can’t control,” Tembey said. “And weather’s one of those uncontrollables.”

Despite the cancellation, Clarskson said UTC’s performance was something for them to build on as the season winds down.

“I think it was positive overall ... We came out strong and showed we’re not going to lie down.” Clarkson said. “It rained, but I still had a good time.”

UTC still is in a good position to claim the SoCon title. They travel to Georgia Southern for a three-game series this weekend needing one win — or a loss by College of Charleston in their three-game set against Elon — to clinch the regular-season conference championship.

But Tembey says the Lady Mocs want more than one win as they get ready for the Southern Conference tournament May 7-10 in Charleston, S.C.

“We’re going to go out their looking for some momentum,” Tembey said. “We’ve got to let everybody know that we’re not going to back down.”