Fuzzard shot wins for UTC

Michelle Fuzzard got the pitch she wanted and produced a big hit when her team needed it most.

Fuzzard, first baseman for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, belted a full-count pitch over the fence in center field in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday. That gave the Lady Mocs a 3-2 win over Samford in the Southern Conference softball tournament at Jim Frost Stadium.

UTC is one win away from its second consecutive tournament title and a trip to an NCAA regional.

“If this team can manage a way to win this tournament,” Lady Mocs coach Frank Reed said, referring to preseason questions and injuries along the way, “to have come back and have fought through so much adversity — that would be an awesome thing.”

Fuzzard was 1-for-6 coming into Friday’s game and had not hit for consistent power for several weeks, but she said she felt like things were turning her way against Samford.

“I felt confident through it all,” she said. “I didn’t feel like I was struggling too bad, and I knew I was due a big hit.”

Tiffany Baker gave the Lady Mocs an early lead with a home run in the second inning, but Samford fought back with two unearned runs in the third for a 2-1 lead. Baker tied the game by hitting into a bases-loaded fielder’s choice in the fifth, but UTC was never able to break the game open despite several opportunities.

Again, though, the Lady Mocs pitching kept them in the game. Junior Brooke Loudermilk was solid again, pitching five innings of three-hit ball, but left the game with a 2-2 tie for reliever Kandice Irwin. Much as she did in Thursday’s win over Furman, Irwin came in with a runner on base and shut the door on the Bulldogs threat. Irwin pitched two innings and gave up one hit while striking out two.

“I always like pitching with a little bit of pressure,” Irwin said. “I feel like I do better under pressure. Brooke pitched really good, and because we pitch differently I came in and did what I can do and switched it up a little bit.”

UTC pitching coach Shaina Ervin said the Lady Mocs’ strength is their pitching depth.

“I knew from the beginning our advantage would be having a staff where we wouldn’t have to rely on one pitcher to go seven innings,” Ervin said. “I’m really proud of the pitchers, and one more win and I’ll be even more proud.”

UTC will play for the SoCon championship today at 1:30 p.m. against the winner of the 11 a.m. losers-bracket final between Samford and Georgia Southern. The Lady Mocs will have two chances, if necessary, to win once.

Samford will take on GSU without head coach Beanie Ketcham, who was ejected Friday following Fuzzard’s walk-off home run and will be suspended for a game. Ketcham would be able to coach if the Bulldogs advanced for a rematch with UTC.

Baker said the Lady Mocs know their work isn’t done and are ready for whomever they will face today.

“We’re going to come out fired up and ready to play,” Baker said. “Against either team we’re going to have to fight and claw, and it’s probably going to be just like today’s game.”

Said Fuzzard: “This is the ideal place to be — to just sweep right through it. We just need to stay focused on one game at a time. ... We just need to keep doing what we’re doing and put the bat on the ball, and good things will happen.”

* Georgia Southern 1, Appalachian State 0

The Eagles scored an unearned run in the first inning and relied on pitcher Brianna Streetmon to complete the victory. She pitched a three-hitter with eight strikeouts.

Nina Iduate led off with a bunt single and scored after ASU committed three errors in the inning.

* UNC Greensboro 4, Furman 3

After falling behind 3-0 after one inning, the Spartans rallied with two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings to claim the win.

Baylor School graduate Mary Catherine Vercoe went 2-for-3 for the Spartans and knocked in the go-ahead run with a single in the fifth inning. She also scored twice.

* Georgia Southern 9, UNC Greensboro 2

Sam Russo hit a three-run home run to key a five-run fifth inning for the Eagles. Robyn Siliga and Megen Smith also homered for GSU.