The Chattanooga Mocs softball team topped Middle Tennessee 8-5 in Frost Stadium for its 20th win. UTC scored three runs each in the fifth and sixth inning.
"We made a few adjustments with our hitting," head coach Frank Reed stated. "We were looking for certain pitches, and our players did a good job of waiting for them."
UTC is 20-19 and 2-4 in Southern Conference play. This was the Mocs second win against an in-state opponent.
The Blue Raiders and Chattanooga each scored two runs in the first inning.
Starting UTC's offense off, senior Sam Taylor hit a double to left field.
Then, Senior Alyssa Taylor made it to third base off a throwing error by MTSU's pitcher Kelci Cheney, while Sam Taylor scored. Senior Criket Blanco followed with a single to right field, batting Alyssa Taylor in.
"We got some balls nice in the gap that I thought really paid off for us," commented Reed. "It gives us some momentum going into conference games this weekend."
Middle Tennessee tallied one run in the top of the second and two in the third.
In the bottom of the fifth, Blanco had her third hit of the game, batting in Sam Taylor and freshman Alyssa Coppinger.
Senior Anyssa Robles followed with a double to left field, advancing Blanco to third. Sophomore Ashley Conner hit a single to bring Blanco home, tying the game up 5-5.
In the top of the sixth, sophomore Cori Jennings tossed two strikeouts to hold the Blue Raiders to five runs.
Coppinger started a strong offensive inning for the Mocs with a single in the bottom of the sixth. Sam Taylor got on base from a Blue Raiders' error. Alyssa Taylor doubled up the middle, bringing Coppinger and Sam Taylor home to give Chattanooga its first lead of the game.
Robles had her second hit of the game. Then, Conner hit a sacrifice fly to bat Alyssa Taylor in.
Jennings earned her ninth win from the circle.
Chattanooga resumes SoCon play against Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C., on Saturday and Sunday. A doubleheader is set for Saturday at 1:00 p.m. (E.D.T.), followed by a lone game Sunday at 1:00 p.m.