With injuries plaguing a major part of his roster, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball coach Frank Reed is looking for something his team can hang its hat on.
He hopes pitching and defense become that staple.
Reed and the Mocs (17-15) begin Southern Conference play this weekend with a series against Furman at Frost Stadium. They will play a doubleheader tonight, starting at 5, and finish the three-game set Saturday afternoon at 1.
UTC ranks fourth in the SoCon with a 3.24 earned run average, despite dealing with some injuries at the position, even after their senior returner was lost in the fall. Sophomore left-hander Cori Jennings had bruised ribs that kept her out for nearly a month, and freshman pitcher/outfielder Jordan Fortel has had some shoulder issues, but the two along with sophomore Kailey Palazzolo are all healthy and available this weekend.
Jennings was the SoCon pitcher of the month in February but did not return until March 18 against Georgia Tech. She did strike out 11 in a win over UMass Lowell last Sunday.
“I feel strong coming into the weekend,” she said Thursday. “I had a pretty good weekend, and I can build on that going into conference play. The pitchers, right now I feel like we’re the constant for the team, so I feel like we have to be the leader for the defense. If we’re not on our game, it’s going to be hard for them to be on theirs.”
There has had to be a lot of mixing and matching so far this season, and that will continue as the season goes on. First baseman Jesslyn Stockard is out this weekend with a torn labrum. Her replacement, Katie Corum, is available but could be forced to play third base as the team’s starter at that position, Ashley Conner, is questionable for the weekend.
The team already lost shortstop J.J. Hamill to an injury. Reed still has some experience there as Alyssa Taylor started at short last year, but the coaching staff was using her mostly in left field before Hamill had to leave the lineup.
Second baseman Criket Blanco hasn’t missed any time but has been hampered by a broken finger. Halie Williamson, the backup at second, has been cleared to run this weekend but has had a broken hand.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had this many injuries in one season,” Reed said.
“Our confidence is going to be how we do in the pitching circle,” he said. “If we get good pitching, it will keep us confident about putting a run across. We’re just a team that’s beat up and trying to find a way. Sometimes you can rise to the occasion, but it’s hard to hold some people too accountable when they’re playing some place they’ve never played before.
“But it’s Chattanooga softball, and it seems that at some point we pick it up. One thing is for sure: We won’t quit fighting. We’ll do everything we can to try to bring in a win.”
Palazzolo has been one of the team’s most versatile players, having played both infield and outfield along with pitching during her two-year career. She feels the team is at a good place heading into conference play.
The fact that the pitching staff is relatively healthy helps.
“We just have to relax at this point,” she said. “We’ve been tense at some times, but we have to remember that this is a fun game and we have to pick our bats up a little bit.
“We just have to make some adjustments as a team – small adjustments. If we do that, we’ll be fine.”
UTC has six players batting .300 or better, led by Alyssa Taylor at .342. Senior center fielder Sam Taylor (.327) has team highs of 35 hits and 22 runs scored, and Blanco (.302) leads with 19 RBIs. Fortel is hitting .333 with 34 hits, three home runs, 20 runs and 17 RBIs, while fellow freshman Corum is batting .318 and senior catcher Anyssa Robles is hitting .310 with 16 RBIs.
Furman is 15-14, led by first baseman AnnaRose Borrelli with a .407 batting average, seven homers and 27 RBIs.
– Reed will speak at a game-day breakfast Saturday at 9 a.m. at Wally’s Restaurant on McCallie Avenue, and the public is invited. Reservations are not required.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.