No. 1 seed Chattanooga cruised to a 10-1 victory over No. 4 seed Mercer in the first game of day two at the SoCon Softball Championship at UNCG Softball Stadium on Thursday.
The Mocs (39-13) advanced to play at 10 a.m. on Friday against the winner of the UNCG and Samford game. Mercer (23-29) will face No. 7 seed Western Carolina in an elimination game at 4 p.m. later today.
The top-seeded Mocs struck first, scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Kailey Snell hit a leadoff single and was moved over to second base on a sacrifice bunt.
Following a walk and a foul out, Kendall Forsythe hit a bloop single to center field, bringing Snell across home plate to make the score 1-0.
Chattanooga would extend its lead in the third inning. Forsythe produced the first three runs on a home run to center field, which also scored Baileigh Pitts and Camryn Cernuto. The homer was followed by a single from Kaili Phillips and a double from Addy Keylon. Both would score on a wild pitch during the next at-bat, putting the Mocs up 6-0.
One inning later, Forsythe continued her big day, driving in her fifth run of the game on a single up the middle to score Cernuto. A single and walk in the next two at-bats loaded the bases for pinch hitter Anna Dovey, who delivered a two-run double to left field to make the score 9-0. The Mocs’ final run of the inning would be scored by Acelynn Sellers via a fielding error by Mercer.
Mercer loaded the bases with zero outs in the top of the fifth inning. Two batters later, Avery Barton hit an RBI single that scored Alyssa Woods, but Chattanooga would also get an out on the play at third base. The next Bears batter popped out to the pitcher, ending the game at 10-1.
SoCon Pitcher of the Year Peja Goold (9-3) tossed five innings for the Mocs, striking out eight batters and surrendering one run. Forsythe and Phillips combined to go 5-for-5 at plate, registering five RBIs, four runs scored and a walk.
For Mercer, Janessa Plummer was 2-for-2 with a walk and Tori Hedgecock drew a pair of walks.
2024 SoCon Softball Championship
Greensboro, N.C.
Wednesday, May 8
Game 1: No. 5 Wofford 5, No. 8 ETSU 4 (10 innings)
Game 2: No. 7 Western Carolina 8, No. 6 Furman 6
Game 3: No. 4 Mercer 1, No. 5 Wofford 0
Game 4: No. 3 Samford 5, No. 7 Western Carolina 2
Thursday, May 9
Game 5: No. 1 Chattanooga 10, No. 4 Mercer 1 (5 innings)
Game 6: No. 2 UNCG vs. No. 3 Samford, 1 p.m.
Game 7: No. 7 Western Carolina vs. No. 4 Mercer, 4 p.m.
Game 8: No. 5 Wofford vs. Game 6 loser, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 10
Game 9: No. 1 Chattanooga vs. Game 6 winner, 10 a.m.
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 11: Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 11
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 13 (if necessary): Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser, 4 p.m.