Staff Report
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team split its two games Saturday in the Frost Classic at Warner Park.
The Lady Mocs with an 8-1 win over Indiana before falling 1-0 to Connecticut.
In the first game, UTC jumped out to an early lead with a four-run first inning on an RBI single by third baseman Toni Hutchison and a three-run home run by freshman catcher Katie Blevins. Blevins leads the Lady Mocs with seven home runs and 18 RBIs for the season.
After a solo home run by Indiana’s Brittany Devitt in the top of the second cut UTC’s lead to 4-1, the Lady Mocs answered in the bottom of the inning with four more runs on one swing of the bat.
UTC junior designated player Laci Upchurch hit a grand slam to left center field, scoring Blevins, Hutchison and first baseman Michelle Fuzzard.
That would be all the offense UTC pitcher Brooke Loudermilk needed. The sophomore pitched a complete game, giving up five hits and striking out five, to even her season record at 4-4.
The Lady Mocs’ bats went silent in their second game of the day against Connecticut, but strong pitching by freshman Kandice Irwin kept UTC in a scoreless game until late.
In the top of the seventh, Connecticut right fielder Melissa Lucas homered for the winning run.
Irwin (4-3) gave up only three hits and struck out six in the losing effort.
Huskies pitcher Tricia Sullivan held the Lady Mocs to one hit, a Hutchison single in the second inning, to get the win.
UTC returns to play today at Jim Frost Stadium against Marshall at 2:15 p.m. on the final day of the Frost Classic.
