Elon played the percentages by intentionally walking University of Tennessee at Chattanooga slugger Michelle Fuzzard to load the bases in Wednesday’s opening round of the Southern Conference softball tournament at Boone, N.C.
It was a gamble that didn’t pay off.
UTC catcher Vivian Morimoto responded with a grand slam to cap the Lady Mocs’ 8-1 win after rain delayed the start of the tournament by several hours. It was her second grand slam in as many games. She belted one also in the regular-season finale at UNC Greensboro on Sunday.
Morimoto went 2-for-4 and Fuzzard was 2-for-2 with a home run and three runs in the win. The two homers gave UTC 60 for the season, a school record.
Taylor Deason pitched a three-hitter to earn her 23rd victory of the season, breaking the school freshman record held by Brooke Loudermilk (2007) and Talya Trudell (1998).