The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball players saw something Saturday afternoon they hadn't seen in almost a week - the sixth and seventh innings of a game - but the result was the same as it's been for almost two weeks: The Lady Mocs got two more wins.
After defeating Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis 9-1 in five innings at Jim Frost Stadium in the Frost Classic, UTC (11-3) had to rally from an early deficit and play a full game in a 10-3 win over Northern Iowa.
The Lady Mocs have outscored their opponents 87-24 in their 10-game winning streak.
Against IUPUI, senior third baseman Tiffany Baker hit a first-inning home run for an 2-0 lead. It was the third consecutive game in which UTC had hit a home run in its first at-bat. Baker went 3-for-3 with another homer against Northern Iowa.
She had been relatively quiet recently but said she was confident that she'd eventually get her offense back on track.
"I thought I was seeing the ball really well," Baker said. "I just kept hitting it, and I knew that something would happen if I kept hitting it and had faith in what I do."
The Lady Mocs added three runs in the second inning and two in the third. Michelle Fuzzard continued her hot work at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance against IUPUI, and Della Harrison went 2-for-3 and hit her fourth home run of the season.
After IUPUI got a run in the top of the fifth inning, sophomore second baseman Sara Poteat ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run single.
Poteat said she's feeling more comfortable in her role as the team's everyday second baseman and No. 2 hitter.
"Getting more regular playing time is what gets you better," said Poteat, who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs against the Jaguars. "I'm still learning to be a hitter, but it's more about thinking about what pitches are coming. I never used to do that, so it's making me progress at the plate."
Jessica Traxler and Natalie Powers each went 2-for-2 against IUPUI.
Pitcher Kandice Irwin turned in another strong performance Saturday, earning wins in both games in relief of Fuzzard and Nikki Waters. Against Northern Iowa, Irwin was perfect over the final 42/3 innings, allowing no hits or walks while striking out two.
Irwin said her success is a result of staying focused on team goals.
"The whole team's approach is that we're playing against ourselves," she said. "So we're always going out and competing against ourselves and just playing our game."
Left fielder Lauren Flores went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and Lyndsey Stiles was 2-for-4 with an RBI against UNI, and catcher Vivian Morimoto had a clutch two-run hit to put UTC back in front in the second inning.
Baker's performance brought special praise from coach Frank Reed.
"Tiffany needed that. You know, Tiffany's a warrior," Reed said. "A lot of people don't understand that every time she swings she's in significant pain."
Baker said the ankle injuries that have been an issue for much of her college career are just something she's had to accept.
"Honestly, it's an everyday thing," she said. "It's something I have to deal with until the season's over. I've got 50-something games left in my career, so I'm going to push it until I can't physically do it anymore."
UTC will wrap up its Frost Classic play today against UT-Martin at 11 a.m. The Lady Mocs rallied from a 3-0 deficit to edge the Skyhawks 4-3 in eight innings last weekend in Mobile, Ala.
Reed and UTC players said they expect today's game to be intense.
"There was a little trash talking going on last week," the coach said. "I'm sure that's going to maybe carry over into tomorrow, but I told [my players] that our big focus is to just worry about what's going on in our dugout."