Lady Mocs take two 1-run wins

photo UTC's Kasey Tydingco (5) stretches to make an out at first in the third inning while playing Eastern Kentucky on the first day of the Frost Classic.

The offense was a bit hard to come by at times, but the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team managed to extend its winning streak to five games with two victories Friday in the Frost Classic on a chilly afternoon and evening at Warner Park.

The Lady Mocs (6-5) rallied to defeat Eastern Kentucky 4-3 and scratched out a late run to beat Lipscomb 1-0 in the late game.

"It's a whole lot easier getting prepared for tomorrow after winning than it is after you've lost four in a row," said UTC coach Frank Reed, whose team started the season 1-5. "My favorite thing to say is 'There's nothing so bad that a few wins won't fix.'

"We should feel good going into tomorrow, and maybe get a little bit warmer weather and build confidence for our hitters after seeing more pitching."

In the opening game, UTC fell behind 1-0 before taking the lead with three runs in the fourth inning. First baseman Kasey Tydingco hit a two-run double to the fence in left-center field to give the Lady Mocs the lead.

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The Colonels tied the game with two runs in the sixth, but UTC got the winning run in the bottom half of the inning when freshman shortstop Alyssa Taylor's RBI single to center field allowed Stephanie Rieck to score.

"I was thinking how the team picked me up in the Auburn game last week," Taylor said. "I knew it was my time to be a team player for all these girls."

The Lady Mocs and the Bison played scoreless ball into the bottom of the sixth inning, when UTC loaded the bases and took the lead when Rieck was hit by a pitch to force pinch runner Hannah Thurley home with the winning run.

Sophomore pitcher Taylor Deason earned the complete-game victory in the Eastern Kentucky game and picked up her second win of the day with three innings in relief of starter Kaisey Carson.

"Basically before every pitch, you have to think about where you're going with the ball," Deason (5-3) said of pitching in two low-scoring games. "I'm just glad our defense could be as solid as it was today, because it really helped with us not hitting as well."

UTC continues play in the 12-team tournament today by facing Miami (Ohio) at 1:15 p.m. and Boston College at 3:30.

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