For the first part of Friday's game against Western Carolina, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team couldn't do much of anything right.
The Lady Mocs weren't hitting or pitching well, and they were making errors -- a lot of errors.
But after trailing 5-0 after four innings and committing six errors in the field, the Lady Mocs staged another late rally, scoring seven runs in their final two innings for a 7-5 win to remain undefeated in Southern Conference play.
UTC starter Brooke Loudermilk, who has been adjusting her delivery after several illegal pitch calls this season, gave up six hits in 3 1/3 innings and struck out five batters. Loudermilk allowed five runs, but only one was earned as the Lady Mocs (24-9, 7-0) committed the most errors in a league game since committing six twice in the 1996 season.
The Catamounts (4-23, 0-9) did most of their damage in the fourth inning, scoring four runs on two hits along with four UTC errors and a wild pitch by reliever Kandice Irwin.
"I really don't know what the problem is," said UTC freshman first baseman Kasey Tydingco, who went 2-for-3 and scored twice. "Maybe we put too much pressure on ourselves and didn't just play like we know how. The balls we made errors on were fundamental ground balls. There was no reason for an error."
Catcher Lynleigh Hurndon began the rally for the Lady Mocs with a one-out single in the fifth inning to extend her hitting streak to six games. Tydingco followed with a double and later scored on a passed ball, and Lyndsey Stiles and Tia Blosser had run-scoring hits to cut the lead to 5-3 and chase WCU starting pitcher Katie King.
In the sixth inning, Tydinco hit an RBI triple to score fellow freshman Sara Poteat. The Catamounts intentionally walked Stiles, who stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, to face Kaiti Kelley. Kelley, who said she took the walk to Stiles as an insult to her ability at the plate, responded with a two-run single to right field to give UTC a 6-5 lead.
"I was thinking to myself, 'They want an easy out right here. Well, they're not going to get it,'" Kelley said. "I've never felt more relaxed approaching a batter's box. I loved that moment, and I knew I was going to come through for my team."
Kelley scored to give UTC a little breathing room when Blosser followed with her third hit of the day.
Irwin (5-0) held the Catmounts scoreless over the final 3 2/3 innings to earn the win. She allowed three hits and struck out five.
Despite the win, UTC coach Frank Reed expressed frustration with the mistakes and lack of offense early in the game -- an issue the Lady Mocs have faced several times this season.
"I'm not sure what buttons to push. Sometimes they come out and they're ready to play and I feel really good about them," Reed said. "We talk about how we want them to be their best every pitch, every game, every day. And somehow they're not doing it."
UTC and Western Carolina will wrap up their series today with a doubleheader starting at noon.