Tiffany Baker's 12th home run of the season was her first at Frost Stadium this year and helped the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga salvage a split of a softball doubleheader Wednesday against the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Baker's blast in the bottom of the sixth inning erased a one-run deficit and lifted the Lady Mocs to a 2-1 victory. UAB won the first game 3-1.
Lauren Flores, who was 3-for-3 in the first game, was aboard with a one-out single when Baker delivered.
"I try not to think about home runs," said Baker, who was 2-for-4 and drove in UTC's run in the first game. "You hit base hits on the way to home runs. If you're seeing the ball and hitting the ball, they're going to go eventually. I was looking for one pitch and she threw it."
Winning pitcher Nikki Waters gave up an unearned run in the first inning. She allowed five hits, no walks and struck out three.
Kristin Holloway went 2-for-3 for UTC (32-10) in the opener when it stranded nine. Coach Frank Reed said it seems when one third of his team's order is going well, the third batting behind it isn't.
"We outhit them more than double, but couldn't get the timely hits," Reed said. "We have a tendency to get people on base and can't seem to get them in."
* Cleveland State 7-4, Tennessee Wesleyan JV 0-2: At Athens, the Lady Cougars claimed a sweep over the junior varsity squad from Tennessee Wesleyan.
* Covenant 5-3, Bluefield College 0-2: At Lookout Moutnain, the Scots swept a doubleheader that had originally been scheduled for April 24.
Chelsea Kraft earned the win in both games, including a complete-game one-hit shutout in the first game, and struck out nine batters on the day.
In the first game, Kimberly Peebles was 2-for-3 with a run and a pair of RBIs, and Jenny Keener had a hit and two RBIs.
In the second game, Christine Core and Kim Cuticchia each went 2-for-3 with a run, and Lindsey Potter had two RBIs for Covenant (6-24, 6-9 AAC).
LaGrange tops Sewanee
SEWANEE, Tenn. - the host Tigers fell to 6-24 with the NCAA Division III loss. Taylor Irwin and Joe Reilly each had three hits for Sewanee, including a two-run home run for Irwin, and Rascoe Dean and Thomas Pillow had two hits each in the loss.
LaGrange outhit Sewanee 16-13 as Chase Reimer took the loss.