Jordan Fortel had a smashing debut for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team Friday at the National Training Center Tournament at Clermont, Fla.
The freshman from Greeneville, Tenn., began her college career by getting the pitching win in relief on her own sacrifice fly in a 4-3 victory over Morgan State. She then batted in all of the Mocs’ runs in a 3-1 defeat of Liberty with a two-run home run and a double.
Sophomore Cori Jennings pitched a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts against Liberty, which scored only one run in the first inning despite three UTC errors, a walk and a bases-loaded, no-out scenario. Jennings got two strikeouts and a groundout to escape major damage and allowed only one hit the rest of the game.
Fortel allowed four hits and no runs in her 3 1/3 innings in the opener, after Kailey Palazzola went 3 2/3 with three runs allowed on two hits. They combined for nine strikeouts.
Kimber Salvas gave Morgan State a 3-1 lead with a two-run pinch-hit single in the fourth, but Fortel started a two-run sixth for the Mocs with a single. Jesslyn Stockard hit a tying double in that inning and Alyssa Coppinger started UTC’s next at-bat with a single. Bunt hits by Sam Taylor and Alyssa Taylor loaded the bases, and Fortel’s fly to center scored Coppinger to end the game.