Kentcky’s softball team snapped the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s nine-game winning streak with a 3-1 defeat of the Lady Mocs on Saturday in the Frost Classic at Warner Park.
UTC bounced back in its second game of the day with a six-inning 8-0 win over Georgetown University. Lady Mocs batters pounded out 13 hits against the Hoyas to improve their Frost record to 3-1 and their season mark to 10-3.
Shortstop Molly Johnson knocked in all of Kentucky’s runs against UTC, going 2-for-2 with two home runs off starting pitcher Brooke Loudermilk.
The Lady Mocs had their chances to rally. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Michelle Fuzzard was hit by a pitch and Tiffany Baker doubled to put UTC baserunners at third and second bases, but Laci Upchurch fouled out to end the threat.
“We had every opportunity to beat Kentucky,” junior outfielder Lyndsey Stiles said. “We’re just as good as Kentucky, but we just didn’t play our best game.”
Kaiti Kelley knocked in Styles for the Lady Mocs’ run with a single in the bottom of the third inning.
Chanda Bell earned the win for Kentucky despite allowing seven hits and an earned run. Bell struck out seven.
Loudermilk produced another strong outing, striking out seven UK batters while allowing five hits. The two homers made the difference.
“When you face a good team, they’re going to make you pay for your mistakes,” UTC pitching coach Shaina Ervin said of Loudermilk. “I think this is a learning experience for her because she paid for her mistakes today.”
In the late game against Georgetown, UTC junior Nikki Waters pitched a two-hit shutout. Waters has struggled at times in her first season with the Lady Mocs after transferring from Southern Illinois, but she was in command throughout against the Hoyas, striking our six.
Ervin said she is happy to see Waters have the success the coaches have expected from her all season.
“I think today was her step forward,” Ervin said. “We needed to see more out of her, and she’s been standing in her own way. … Today she really took it out there.”
Waters said she has tried to put her early-season struggles behind her and focus on each game as it happens.
“I’ve just tried to stop thinking and pitch the ball,” Waters said. “Like I know how to do.”
The Lady Mocs jumped on Georgetown early as Baker knocked in two runs in the bottom of the first inning, scoring Stiles and Fuzzard. Kelley continued her good work with the bat by hitting an infield single in the second inning that scored Jenni Martin and adding a two-run single in the fourth.
Kelley’s fourth RBI of the day gave the Lady Mocs a 5-0 lead. She was 2-for-2 against Georgetown.
“I’m just seeing the ball and putting it into play,” Kelley said. “I try not to put any pressure on myself.”
Stiles, who hits ahead of Kelley in the lineup, was 4-for-4 with three runs scored against the Hoyas and 5-for-7 for the day.
“We want to get on base,” Stiles said of her and Kelley hitting at the top of UTC’s order. “It’s huge, because we make such a big impact when we can get on base.”
UTC will wrap up play at the Frost Classic today at 12:30 p.m. against Miami of Ohio.