The Chattanooga Mocs softball team suffered its third loss of the season Saturday morning in Orlando, Fla., on the second day of the UCF Knights Invitational with an 8-5 loss to LIU Brooklyn.
Sophomore Rachel Albritton (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) was handed the start in the circle and delivered with five solid innings of work, but four Chattanooga errors helped cost the right-hander a loss in her first start of the season.
Albritton registered three scoreless innings to begin the game and was backed by a two-run third from the Mocs’ offense. Senior Kaiti Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) doubled with one out and sophomore Sam Taylor (Chickamauga, Ga.) walked after a short rain delayed the game for five minutes. A sacrifice bunt from Alyssa Taylor (Orange, Calif.) followed to move both runners into scoring position and a throwing-error on a ball batted by Anyssa Robles (Lawrenceville, Ga.) allowed both runners to score.
LIU Brooklyn managed one run on two hits in the fifth inning to cut the lead in half, but a four hit, six run sixth lead to the Blackbirds taking an 8-2 lead over UTC. Three hits to begin the inning cause Head Coach Frank Reed to go to the bullpen, bringing freshman Liana Rodrigues (Chattanooga, Tenn.) on in relief. Rodrigues coaxed a fielder’s choice off the bat of pinch-hitter Ariana Lopez to force out the lead-runner, but that was the only out the freshman recorded before allowing three runs on one hit, a two-RBI single to right from catcher Nichole Toven.
Chattanooga looked to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, but the Mocs came up two runs shy of forcing a bottom half to the inning. Dutton’s second double of the game put her at second, and moved base-runner Jenny Garcia (Miami, Fla.) to third. A walk issued to Sam Taylor loaded the bases and a single to center from Alyssa Taylor (Orange, Calif.) drove in two. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Criket Blanco (Maryville, Tenn.) drove in two more runs, but LIU Brooklyn starting pitcher Shelly Procter was able to slam the door and pick up the win.
The Mocs 1:30 p.m. game against UCF was then cancelled due to rain.
The Mocs wrap up the UCF Knights Invitational Sunday morning at 9 a.m. against Kansas. The Jayhawks are 0- on the weekend with losses to UCF and LIU Brooklyn.