JACKSON, TENN. - Chattanooga went from an eight-game losing streak to a two-game winning streak Friday at West Tennessee. The Lookouts won game one, 7-0, and game two, 2-0. The series is now tied at two games each.
The two wins enabled the Lookouts to vacate the Southern League North Division cellar. Now in fourth place, Chattanooga trails third-place Tennessee by 1/2 game.
The Diamond Jaxx (19-28) and Lookouts (20-28) played their third and fourth games in two days at Pringles Park.
Lookouts pitching only allowed three hits combined in the twin bill including a strong no hit bid in game one by starter, Scott Elbert.
Game One: Lookouts 7 Diamond-Jaxx 0
Scott Elbert took a no hitter into the seventh inning but a base hit to lead off the bottom of the seventh prevented the second possible no hitter against the D-Jaxx this year.
Chattanooga jumped out to an early lead in game one with Adam Godwin singling in Russ Mitchell in the second inning.
Godwin and Mitchell combined for a scoring combination in the fourth inning as well. Godwin doubled in Mitchell which was followed by an RBI single by James Tomlin. The Lookouts took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth.
In the fifth, Josh Bell hit a three-run home run giving Chattanooga a 6-0 lead. The homer followed a walk from Justin Sellers and a Tony Abreu single.
The Lookouts added one more run in the sixth inning.
Sellers and Godwin went 3-for-3 in the games. Bell had 3 RBI and Godwin drove in two runs.
Scott Elbert (2-0) picked up the win going 6 1/3 innings pitched, allowing just one hit and no runs. Elbert struck out nine in the outing. J.D. Durbin got the final two outs.
Game Two: Lookouts 2 Diamond-Jaxx 0
D-Jaxx starter Patrick Ryan (2-4) had a rough first inning giving up a run and that would end up being enough. In the first, Josh Bell hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring the game's first run. James Tomlin led the game off with a walk and advanced to second on Ryan's throwing error. Tony Abreu had singled setting up the Bell sacrifice fly.
The D-Jaxx only hits came from Marshall Hubbard, who doubled in the fourth, and Mel Stocker who doubled in the fifth.
The Lookouts, who had six hits in the game, stranded six runners.
Chattanooga starter, Tim Corcoran (2-4) went five innings and allowed just two hits and no runs. Travis Schlichting pitched the final two innings. He allowed no hits, walked two and struck out three.
The final of the series is at 8:05 p.m. Saturday. Justin Souza (0-1, 4.74) makes the start for the Diamond Jaxx while former West Tenn pitcher Travis Chick (3-1, 4.54) counters for Chattanooga.
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The Lookouts return to AT&T Field Sunday to open a five-game homestand against the Mobile BayBears. Game time is 5:15 p.m.
Josh Bell
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt