The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team came into Saturday’s series opener against Samford needing one win to clinch the Southern Conference regular-season title.
The Mocs are still looking for that win after losing 4-3 to the Bulldogs in a game in which Samford pitcher Mollie Hanson was pitching lights out until late.
Samford (31-19, 10-6) scored two runs in the first inning off freshman pitcher Cori Jennings on a hit by Callie Brister that was just out of the reach of third baseman Sarah Beth Roberts — one of six Mocs seniors honored before the game.
“They didn’t really hit the ball all that hard,” UTC coach Frank Reed said. “They had several dink hits and there was that blooper that fell in in the first inning. But obviously we couldn’t put any runs on the board, and it took us seven innings to adjust to that pitcher.
“We had everything in place to win a ballgame and a great crowd out here, but maybe we were distracted by senior day.”