AUBURN, Ala.-- The UTC Lady Mocs softball team (4-5) defeated Auburn (10-1) Sunday evening in the final game of the Auburn University Tiger Invitational in Auburn, Ala. to hand the Tigers their first loss of the season. The win is the first Chattanooga win over the Auburn softball program. The all-time series is now even 1-1.
Taylor Deason (Clarksville, Tenn.) (3-3) went the distance with just six hits allowed, giving up four runs- all unearned. The complete game is the first of the year for Deason and first win in a starting role.
The Lady Mocs fell behind early in the first inning as the defense ran into a couple of miscues. A fielding error allowed Auburn's Brooke Lathan to reach and a wild pitch moved the runner to third. A walk issued to Caitlin Schultze put runners on the corners and another wild pitch from Deason brought Lathan in to score, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Chattanooga got on the board after two scoreless innings as Sam Taylor (Chickamauga, Ga.) led off the UTC fourth with a double to left field. Sarah Beth Roberts (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) put down a sacrifice bunt to move Taylor into scoring position, but a throwing error by the Auburn catcher, Schultze, allowed the freshman to score from first base.
Despite tying the game 1-1 in the top of the inning, the Tigers answered back in the next half inning with three runs to retake the lead. After recording back-to-back strikeouts, a walk and single loaded the bases for Auburn. A fielding error by Taylor at shortstop extended the inning, bringing in an unearned run, and a double off the bat of Lathan in the next at-bat drove in two more.
Down 4-1 going into the fifth inning, the Chattanooga came alive with five hits and four runs to jump ahead of the Tigers 5-4. A single from Alyssa Taylor led off the inning, but a fielder's choice put Poteat on at first in place of Taylor. Sam Taylor walked in the following series and Robles came through with a clutch single to center to drive in Poteat.
Auburn pitcher Hilary Mavromat was chased after the run scored and was replaced by Marcy Harper, but an RBI single from Roberts to the right side drove in the inherited runner, Taylor. A single from Stephanie Rieck (Chandler, Ariz.) extended the inning on two outs and a single two-RBI single to center from Jenny Garcia (Miami, Fla.) gave the Lady Mocs their first lead of the game.
Up 5-4 going into the sixth inning, Roberts added an insurance run with a solo home run over the left field fence. The no-doubter was Roberts first of the season as well as the first Chattanooga home run of the 2013 campaign.
The Lady Mocs return to Chattanooga Friday to host the Frost Classic at Frost Stadium. Chattanooga opens its home slate against Eastern Kentucky at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. UTC will also take on Lipscomb, Miami-Ohio, Boston College and Missouri State during the weekend.