The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team completed the Frost Classic in dramatic fashion Sunday with a 6-5 win over Marshall, courtesy of a walk-off home run by freshman first baseman Michelle Fuzzard.
UTC jumped ahead 3-0 with two runs in the third inning — on an RBI single by center fielder Lyndsey Stiles and a sacrifice fly by third baseman Toni Hutchison — and another run in the fourth inning when designated player Tiffany Baker tripled and came home on Lauren Flores’ sacrifice fly.
But Marshall struck for four runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-3 lead, with the big blow coming on a three-run home run by designated player Samantha Rodriguez.
The Lady Mocs (11-8) reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning with an RBI triple by catcher Katie Blevins and a sacrifice fly by right fielder Laci Upchurch. Marshall tied the game in the top of the seventh on Rachael Sofie’s RBI double.
Fuzzard ended the back-and-forth contest with a deep shot to left field.
UTC freshman Kandice Irwin (5-3) got the win in relief of sophomore starter Brooke Loudermilk, who gave up four runs on six hits while striking out six over five innings.
Autumn Mitchell was credited with the loss for Marshall (8-10).
UTC was scheduled to take on Morehead State as well Sunday, but that game was canceled. The Lady Mocs finished the Frost Classic with a weekend record of 2-1.
UTC returns to action Tuesday when it will play host to Toledo in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. at Jim Frost Stadium at Warner Park.
Chattanooga St. sweeps
Chattanooga State’s softball team had a good day Sunday, going 3-0 in the Savannah College of Art and Design Spring Break tournament in Savannah, Ga., with a 10-2 victory over Edward Waters and 5-2 and 3-0 wins over South Georgia.
Kaiti Kelley moved into the leadoff position for the Tigers, and responded by going 5-for-7 over the three games Sunday.
In the first game, Meagan Qualls was 2-for-2 with two doubles against Edward Waters with two RBIs, and the Tigers won easily 10-2. Megann Sallinger was 2-for-3 and Britni Pearce was 2-for-2. Jessica Duncan struck out eight over three innings, earning the win.
In their second game of the day, Brittany Fox pitched a complete game as the Tigers defeated South Georgia, 5-2. Fox struck out six batters and only surrendered two unearned runs. Casey Saunders was 2-for-2 with an run scored and Pearce was 1-for-2 with a stolen base and a run scored.
Chattanooga State (22-5) again faced South Georgia in its final game and won, 3-0. Courtney Alvarez pitched the complete-game shutout, striking out 10 batters while allowing five hits. Amber Janus provided the key offensive play with an RBI triple.
Chattanooga State continues play in Savannah today with a doubleheader against Muskegon (Mich.) Community College.
John Frierson is in his fifth year at the Times Free Press and fifth year covering University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletics. The bulk of his time is spent covering Mocs football, but he also writes about women’s basketball and the big-picture issues and news involving the athletic department. A native of Athens, Ga., John grew up a few hundred yards from the University of Georgia campus. Instead of becoming a Bulldog he attended Ole ...
