BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team remained undefeated in Southern Conference play with a 12-1 win over Samford to complete a 3-game weekend sweep.
Brooke Loudermilk started the game in the pitching circle for UTC but was called for four straight illegal pitches to open the game and was replaced by Nikki Waters after facing one batter.
Waters proved up to the task for UTC (22-8, 6-0 SoCon), pitching the rest of the game to earn the win while allowing an unearned run on three hits and striking out five Bulldog batters. At the plate, Waters was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.
After scoring a single run on a bases-loaded walk to Waters in the first inning, UTC broke the game open with seven runs in the second, highlighted by a pinch-hit grand slam by junior utility player Della Harrison.
“That pitch was like a big pumpkin,” Harrison said of the home run. “I was expecting to get a hit and drive some runs, but not (a grand slam).”
Harrison, who had only one hit in her first two seasons with the Lady Mocs, has improved greatly on offense this season, including a two-run walkoff single to beat Rutgers and a RBI hit on Saturday to help UTC rally to win the opening game against Samford.
UTC coach Frank Reed said he is thrilled with the progress Harrison has shown at the plate this season and is expecting more from her as the season progresses.
“I am glad that Della had a great week,” Reed said “If this does not tell her what she can do and bust her out, then I don’t know what will. I think that we are going to see a different Della coming up to the plate from now on.”
Harrison said she knows that more is expected of her on offense as an upper classman.
“Honestly, I think that it was due for me to step up,” Harrison said. “Coach Reed always said to bring practice into the game, be your best every single time that you come up to bat.”
In addition to Harrison’s heroics, Lauren Flores was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, Lyndsey Stiles was 2-for-3 with two runs and Tia Blosser continued her solid offensive play going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
For Samford (9-18, 1-8), former Tennessee Temple Academy player Amanda Jordan was 1-for-2 with a walk for the Bulldogs’ lone run.
UTC will play a nonconference doubleheader at Georgia State in Atlanta on Wednesday before returning home to face conference foe Western Carolina on Friday and Saturday.
Lady Tigers success
SEMINOLE, Okla. — The Chattanooga State softball team completed a weekend tournament going 5-3 in games Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
On Friday, the Lady Tigers (35-10) claimed a pair of wins over Seminole State, 6-2 and 10-0, before falling to Northeastern Oklahoma 7-5. Haley Workman and Kendall Bruning earned wins for the Tigers, and Whitney Galloway, Leah Kelley and Kaela Jackson hit home runs.
Galloway went 3-for-5 on Friday, but she dislocated her right thumb and didn’t compete the rest of the weekend.
Chattanooga State won all three games it played Saturday, beating Western Texas 2-1 in eight innings, Texarkana 8-0 in five innings and ending the day with a 6-4 win over Crowder CC.
Alex Buffington had an RBI hit against Western Texas, and Brittany Cooley went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs against Texarkana.
Chattanooga State finished the weekend on a down note, losing 5-1 to Blinn CC and 3-1 to Northeastern Oklahoma. Cooley knocked in the Tigers only run against Blinn, and Workman had a home run against Northeastern Oklahoma.
Chattanooga State returns home to host Motlow State for a doubleheader on Friday.