GREENSBORO, N.C. — The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team wrapped up its fourth consecutive Southern Conference regular-season title Saturday by sweeping a doubleheader at UNC Greensboro and getting an assist from Georgia Southern.
The Lady Mocs (37-13, 17-3) fell behind 2-0 in both games before rallying to beat the Spartans 3-2 in eight innings and 6-2 in the second game.
Second-place Elon lost 3-2 and 14-9 at Georgia Southern to give UTC the SoCon championship and the right to host the four-team conference tournament May 13-14.
“This is big,” UTC coach Frank Reed said. “We took care of business today and I’m feeling good about that. … There’s pressure to win every year, and we’ve had to win a lot of extra-inning games this season. I’m really proud of them for getting it done.”
After giving up two runs in the second inning, the Lady Mocs chipped away with single runs in the third, sixth and eighth to get the first victory.
Senior outfielder Lyndsey Stiles went 2-for-4 and scored the tying run in the sixth on a single by third baseman Tiffany Baker.
Reed said he wasn’t happy with the offense after the first game, when the team managed only six hits in eight innings.
“I was disappointed in the way they played in the first game,” Reed said. “I got on them pretty hard, and they responded.”
In the second game, UTC senior pitcher Brooke Loudermilk struggled in the first inning, allowing a walk and a two-run home run by Eileen Horsmon. But she settled down and Horsmon’s homer was the only hit she would allow in the game.
“I just had to have confidence in myself,” Loudermilk said. “I knew I needed to focus, so I went back to work and didn’t worry on things I couldn’t control.”
Reed said he was happy to see Loudermilk shake off the early homer and pitch effectively.
“I was worried, but she settled down,” Reed said. “I think she really got her mental game together after (the home run), and I was pleased to see that.”
With Loudermilk keeping the Spartans offense in check, the Lady Mocs batters came alive with five runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by two-run homers by Jessica Traxler and Tia Blosser.
Blosser and Baker each had three hits, and Lauren Flores, Kaiti Kelley and Traxler added two apiece as UTC pounded out 14 in the title-clinching win.
With the SoCon title secured, Baker said the Lady Mocs now want to get the series sweep in today’s final game at UNCG and have a strong home series against College of Charleston next weekend to get ready for the conference tournament.
“Tomorrow’s going to be the icing on the cake,” Baker said. “It’s a relief to get (the regular season title) out of the way, and now we’re going to be playing for the seniors next weekend.”
* At Cullowhee, N.C., Amanda Jordan from Tennessee Temple Academy went 5-for-7 with a double, four RBIs and three runs scored as Samford swept Western Carolina 10-4 and 9-0. That made the Bulldogs 16-30, 7-13 in the league, and dropped WCU to 10-39, 2-17.