Coming off a Southern Conference softball series win at Samford last weekend, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga stumbled in nonconference play Wednesday night, losing 1-0 to Austin Peay at Frost Stadium.
Austin Peay (21-10) scored in the third inning when Brooke Pfefferle drew a leadoff walk against Celie Hudson, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, then scored when Kacy Acree reached on a fielding error.
Ally Walker went 2-for-3 and J.J. Hamill was 1-for-2 with a walk for the Mocs (16-22), who outhit the Governors 5-4 but stranded seven baserunners.
UTC's Hudson (6-10) allowed three hits and four walks with four strikeouts in three innings, Allison Swinford allowed a hit and two walks with three strikeouts in three innings, and Paige Peterson struck out one in a perfect seventh.
Austin Peay's Kelsey Gross (4-3) allowed three hits and two walks with a strikeout in 4 1/3 innings, and Morgan Rackel allowed two hits and struck out one in 2 2/3 innings to earn the save.
» Lee 9-10, Tusculum 2-12: In Cleveland, Tenn., the Lady Flames (18-22) rolled in the doubleheader's first game before their rally fell short in the second matchup.
In the opener, Tusculum led 2-0 before Macy Stovall's bases-loaded double in the second inning put Lee ahead for good. In the same game, Kayla Gooch was 3-for-3 with an RBI, Taylor Moran 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, Stevie Baird 2-for-3 with an RBI, Brooklynn Frazier 2-for-4 and Abby McKinney had a two-run homer. In the circle, Lee's Leigh Beatenbough (8-8) allowed four hits and two walks while striking out eight.
In the second game, the Lady Flames never led and were outhit 17-16 but scored four runs in the seventh to threaten Tusculum (20-17). Moran went 4-for-5 with a double, Kayla Louie was 3-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored, Frazier 2-for-5 with a homer, a double and three RBIs, Baird 2-for-5 with two RBIs and Gooch 2-for-4.
» Bryan 3-5, Reinhardt 2-16: In an Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader Tuesday in Dayton, Tenn., Olivia Johnson pitched a five-hitter and Hannah O'Shields hit a two-run home run and doubled as Bryan (10-26, 7-9) won the first game, and teammate Kimberly McKernie was 2-for-3 with a triple, a double, two RBIs and a run scored in game two as Reinhardt (20-18, 10-4) won in five innings via the mercy rule.
» Tennessee Wesleyan 6-7, Montreat 1-4: The Lady Bulldogs swept an AAC doubleheader Tuesday in Athens, Tenn., giving them seven wins in their past eight games as they improved to 15-11, 8-4. Tennessee Wesleyan's Rachel Mathews pitched a four-hitter with six strikeouts in game one, when Laken Collier batted in three runs, Olivia Housewright was 2-for-3 and scored one and Courtney Black was 2-for-2 with two doubles, a run and an RBI. In the rematch, Brianna Muller was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a run, Mackenzie Jackson was 3-for-4 and scored twice, Allee West was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Baylee Sutton was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Montreat is 10-22, 5-7.