After a successful run in non-conference play, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team will open Southern Conference play today with a doubleheader against Samford at Frost Stadium beginning at 1 p.m. followed by a single game Sunday at 2 p.m.
After a 2-3 opening weekend, the Lady Mocs (13-5) reeled off 11 consecutive wins including one over Ohio State at South Alabama and a 5-0 run as the host team at the Frost Classic during the last weekend in February.
UTC had a shot to make an even more impressive start to the season in the final day of the Bulldog Classic last Sunday in Athens, Ga. The Lady Mocs jumped out to a 3-0 lead on No. 1-ranked Georgia and held a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning before the Lady Bulldogs rallied for two runs with two outs to get a 4-3 win.
UTC is led by upperclassmen with senior Tiffany Baker from East Ridge, who leads the Lady Mocs with five home runs and a .453 batting average, and junior Michelle Fuzzard, with 21 RBIs batting and a 7-3 record in the pitching circle.
Fuzzard was named SoCon player of the month for her performance in February, and senior pitcher Kandice Irwin earned pitcher of the month honors. Irwin has a 4-1 record with a 1.70 ERA and four saves so far this season, and her 17 career saves ties her for 15th on the NCAA career saves list.
Senior center fielder Lyndsey Stiles has helped the Lady Mocs be aggressive on offense from the leadoff spot in the order. Stiles, a former Soddy-Daisy standout, is hitting .322 with three triples and 14 stolen bases, and she has scored a team-best 18 runs.
In contrast to UTC's hot start, Samford has struggled to start the season under first-year head coach Stephanie VanBrakle. The Bulldogs (3-15) enter today's game batting just .215 and no player has more than one home run. Whitney Terry leads the team with a .400 batting average.
Amanda Jordan from Tennessee Temple Academy is Samford's shortstop.