The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team split its season-opening doubleheader Sunday at Frost Stadium, beating Austin Peay 9-1 in the first game before falling 4-1.
The Mocs outhit the Governors 16-10 in the doubleheader, getting home runs from Katie Corum and Morgan Kazerooni plus three hits and three RBIs from Hayleigh Weissenbach to win the opener
Celie Hudson, the Southern Conference's preseason pitcher of the year, allowed five hits and struck out six batters to win game one, which ended in five innings due to the run rule. She also picked up the 300th strikeout of her collegiate career, becoming the 10th UTC pitcher to reach the mark, and it was her 45th complete game, tying Brooke Loudermilk for seventh in program history.
Senior right fielder Aly Walker, the SoCon's preseason player of the year, got things going with a first-inning RBI single. Kazerooni followed with a two-run homer to center field, and Corum's shot to left made it 4-0. Leadoff batter Emily Coltharp had two hits, two RBIs and scored a run as Frank Reed's 19th season as coach of the Mocs got underway.
Corum started the scoring in game two with a third-inning RBI single, but Austin Peay turned things around in the top of the fifth. Bailey Shorter's RBI single tied the score, and after pinch-hitter Brett Jackson's RBI groundout put the visitors ahead, Lexi Osowski provided the final margin with a two-run homer off UTC starter Allison Swinford.
The Governors' Shelby Harpe allowed one run on seven hits with five strikeouts in the complete-game win. Swinford gave up four earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts in six innings.
The Mocs are home again Friday and Saturday for the Chattanooga Challenge, with games against Bowling Green, Indiana State, Marshall, Tennessee Tech and Western Kentucky. UTC's Frost Classic is the following weekend, Feb. 21-22.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.