UTC women face Samford for title and other sports news

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's tennis team hosts Samford today with undefeated Southern Conference records and the regular-season league championship on the line. The match is supposed to begin at 1 p.m. on the UTC courts, but the nearby Manker Patten indoor facilities are available if bad weather hits. Today also is senior day for coach Jeff Clark's Mocs (17-2, 5-0), with Kaylene Chadwell, Claire Mulyadi and Jovanna Pecovski ending their home careers. Samford is 12-8, 6-0 in the league, going into the regular-season finale for both teams.

* The Dalton State men's tennis team, ranked 17th in the NAIA, beat No. 15 Belhaven 5-0 in the weather-delayed first round of the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament Friday in Mobile, Ala. Belhaven had won their in-season meeting, but the Roadrunners not only clinched the tournament matchup early but were leading in all four singles matches not completed. "I'm unbelievably proud of the guys," DSC coach Zach Rogers said in a school release. "We experienced a range of emotions today, and the guys were able to channel it and play their most complete match of the year." Dalton State's Friday night match against top-seeded Auburn-Montgomery was suspended because of lightning and scheduled to resume at 8 EDT this morning. The Dalton State women, shorthanded with Lucie Lovinfosse ineligible for the postseason, had to forfeit a doubles match and a singles match and were swept by nationally third-ranked Brenau. The Lovinfosse ruling by the NAIA is being appealed, coach Michael Bates said.

* The Covenant College tennis teams ended their seasons with losses Friday in the USA South tournament at Rocky Mount, N.C., the men (8-9) falling 5-4 to third-seeded Huntingdon (12-5) and the Lady Scots (12-7) losing 7-2 to fourth seed Meredith (13-5). All-conference players Matthew Harvie and Chris Cox won at Nos. 1 doubles and at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, with Michael O'Brien winning at No. 3 for the Scots. Lindsay Geving won in singles and Gracie Smith and Jennie Spielman in doubles for the Lady Scots.

Softball/Baseball

* Jake Wyrick pitched a four-hitter and Drew Curtis and Janson Roberson had RBI hits as Cleveland State won 2-1 in the first game of a TCCAA baseball doubleheader Friday at Dyersburg State, but Dyersburg won the second game 8-5. Anthony Hunt was 2-for-2 in the win for Cleveland's Cougars (20-18, 7-15). Caleb Longley was 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the loss, when Connor Coakley homered and doubled, Jammer Strickland was 2-for-3 with a single and Blake Thomas scored twice. Colby Skeen was 3-for-4 and scored twice for Dyersburg (22-16, 8-12).

* Lee University's Gulf South Conference baseball and softball games against visiting Valdosta State were rained out, but plans are to play today. The baseball doubleheader at Olympic Field is being moved up to 1 p.m. and will still include Military Appreciation Day festivities.

* The Chattanooga State softball team improved to 35-11 overall and 22-4 in the TCCAA with two wins Friday at Motlow. They meet again today.

Golf

* Dalton State juniors Erika Wardzinski and Julia McQuilken were honored Friday night as co-newcomers of the year for Southern States Athletic Conference women's golf, and teammate Caroline Griffin was freshman of the year and joined them on the all-conference team. DSC's Rachel Rebne was selected for the SSAC all-academic team going in the league tournament at the Montgomery (Ala.) Country Club.

Basketball

* The inaugural CABC Showcase for area boys' basketball players in high school graduating classes of 2015-17 is being held today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Baylor School with 31 players confirmed to participate, Chattanooga Area Basketball Club executive director Daniel Gilbert said Friday. College coaches will be attending, and the public is invited as well, at no cost. Former NBA player Dickey Simpkins, who was part of three of the Chicago Bulls' championships, will be the tipoff speaker.

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