The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team lost 3-0 in its Southern Conference series opener Saturday at Western Carolina. The teams will play two games today after deciding one was enough in the cold, windy conditions Saturday.
WCU pitcher Taylor Sigmon allowed four singles and struck out nine batters, and Madison Armstrong’s third-inning home run began the scoring. The Catamounts (27-13, 6-2) also scored in the fourth and sixth innings.
Cori Jennings (9-7) allowed nine hits and two earned runs in a complete game for the Mocs (20-20, 2-5). Alyssa Taylor, Criket Blanco, Anyssa Robles and Amanda Beltran each was 1-for-3.
– Chattanooga State 10-8, Jackson State 7-0: At Chattanooga State, Jennah McElheney drove in six runs in the first game with two homers, including a game-ending grand slam that made Morgan Boggess the winning pitcher for getting two outs in relief in the top of the seventh, and Boggess then pitched a shutout for her second win of the day.
Lillie McCrary also homered and batted in five runs while Colbie Thomas totaled four hits and scored three runs in the TCCAA doubleheader for the Lady Tigers (33-11, 21-3). Kayla Logoleo was 3-for-4 and scored two in the first game, and Brie Levy was 1-for-1 with a double and Alexis Bonanno was 1-for-2 with a double and a run in game two.
– Lee 9-11, Union University 8-0: At Jackson, Tenn., Emily Dagnan was 6-for-8 with a triple, a double, four runs scored and two batted in and NiaRaye Ceasar was 4-for-5 with a homer, four RBIs and four runs scored as the Lady Flames stretched their winning streak to six games with the Gulf South Conference sweep. Leigh Beatenbough got the pitching win in relief in the nine-inning first game and then combined with Madyson Stallcup on a five-inning two-hitter.
Courtney Crawford had two hits and two RBIs in each game and Amanda Lynn also totaled four hits and four stolen bases in the doubleheader for Lee (20-22-1, 10-18-1). Annabeth Pruett hit a two-run homer in game two, when Hallie Davis was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Lexie Dean and Stevie Baird each had two hits and an RBI in the 9-8 win. Dean’s single in the ninth was the deciding hit.
– Motlow 10-8, Cleveland State 2-2: At Cleveland, the Lady Bucks completed a four-game TCCAA sweep with Saturday’s wins and now are 19-17, 12-12 in league play. They had won 7-5 and 5-4 in 10 innings on Friday.
Carly Frost had eight hits with three doubles and four runs scored and Hannah Godfrey had seven hits in the four games for Cleveland State (15-21, 7-17), while Courtni Hammers had two doubles and three RBIs.
– Bryan 4-8, Montreat 2-0: At Montreat, N.C., the Lady Lions rose to 21-17, 15-3 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference, with Saturday’s two wins.
– Huntingdon 6-5, Covenant 3-9: On Lookout Mountain, Shannon Schmitt was 3-for-4 with a homer, a double and six RBIs and Joni Johnson was 2-for-2 with two RBIs as the hosts bounced back for the second-game USA South win. Jami Johnson scored three times and Kasey Hart and Jordan Brett each was 2-for-4 for Covenant (17-18-1, 7-13).
Schmitt was 2-for-2 with an RBI and Brett and Morgan Lane also had RBIs in the loss.
– Centre 9, Sewanee 1: At Danville, Ky., the Colonels (12-16, 7-6) dropped the Tigers to 5-15 overall and 0-13 in the Southern Athletic Association as Alisha Russell was 3-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs and Ellen Stephens and Torey Hawkins each doubled and singled and drove in two runs.
For Sewanee, Rachel Hoffman was 1-for-2 with a homer and Courtney Saunders was 2-for-2 with a double.
Vols blast A&M
Matty Moss pitched a five-inning three-hitter and Rainey Gaffin was 3-for-3 with a grand slam and six RBIs as 17th-ranked Tennessee whipped No. 10 Texas A&M 11-0 in SEC softball Saturday in Knoxville. That was after the Vols (30-10, 9-5) won 8-7 in the first game of the series Friday, with Gaffin going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and getting the pitching win.
Chattanoogan Shaliyah Geathers drove in two runs Friday for UT. Gretchen Auchoin helped Gaffin offensively Saturday with a homer of her own and three RBIs. Texas A&M is 31-8, 5-6 going into today’s series finale.
Pritchett helps CNU
Katie Pritchett from Heritage High School in Ringgold was 2-for-3 with a two-run double in Carson-Newman’s 10-1 home softball win Saturday against Coker.
CNU (26-14) lost the second game 5-3.