ELON, N.C.-The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team served notice to preseason Southern Conference favorite Elon and the rest of the league on Saturday by sweeping the Phoenix in a doubleheader.
UTC (24-8, 7-0 SoCon) won the opener 7-5 and ended the day with a 13-2 rout in five innings.
Lady Mocs' newcomer Vivian Morimoto - a junior college transfer from Dade County (Fla.) Community College - provided the bulk of the offense in the opener, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs. Morimoto had a double and two home runs to help junior pitcher Michelle Fuzzard earn her 10th win of the season.
Fuzzard allowed eight hits in 6 1/3 innings and gave up five runs, although only two earned runs. Fuzzard and second baseman Sara Poteat each went 2-for-4 at the plate.
Senior Kandice Irwin got the final two outs to earn her sixth save of the season and continue her march up the NCAA career saves list with her 19th save to move into a tie for fifth place.
In the second game, UTC jumped on Elon early with nine runs in the top of the first inning and cruise to victory and complete the sweep.
Lyndsey Stiles led the way with a 3-for-4 performance with two RBIs and three runs. Third baseman Tiffany Baker was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Morimoto and Poteat each had a pair of hits.
Lane Rainey entered the game as a late-inning replacement for Fuzzard at designated player and had a two-run single in the fourth inning.
Lady Mocs starter Nikki Waters allowed only two hits and two runs to improve her record to 6-1 on the season.
UTC and Elon will play the final game of the series today at 1 p.m.
Chattanooga State splits
The No. 2-ranked Lady Tigers battled to a nonconference split against Volunteer State on Saturday, losing the first game 9-8 before getting a 5-4 win in the late game.
Chattanooga State fell behind 6-0 early before battling back to tie the game in the seventh inning. Brittany Cooley had a three-run home run and a two-run shot to key the rally before Volunteer State won on a fielding error in the bottom of the seventh.
Misha Aldridge pitched the complete game in the loss.
In the second game, Shelby Whitfield was 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, and the Lady Tigers (33-8) broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh when Adridge hit a sacrifice fly to score Shelby Johnson with the winning run.
Kadey Robinson earned the win, and Johnson and Cooley each had a pair of hits in the win.
Chattanooga State will be back in action today with a doubleheader at Cleveland State starting at 2 p.m.
n Covenant 10-11, Judson 0-1: Covenant pitcher Chelsea Kraft picked up a pair of wins as the Scots (11-7) swept Judson in a pair of five-inning games on Saturday.
In the first game, Beth Harris was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, and Christine Core and Lindsey Potter each had two hits.
In the second game, Morgan Booker and Sonja Townsend each were 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored.
n Lee 8-5, Brewton-Parker 0-9: Brittany Balough threw a one-hit shutout and Danielle Balough had a home run and four RBIs to lead the Lady Flames to an easy first-game win in a doubleheader split Saturday.
Charlie Wooden had two hits in the win.
In the second game, Brewton-Parker outhit Lee 16-14 and scored in every inning except the first and second.
Jenevive Cena and Taylor Horseman led Lee (14-11, 5-5 SSAC) with three hits apiece.
n Birmingham Southern 8-25, Sewanee 0-0: Sewanee's Alex Ginsburg got the only hit for the Tigers in an SCAC sweep Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.