A timely miscue on defense and 11 runners left on base from the Chattanooga Mocs softball team's offense resulted in a 4-0 loss to UNCG during the series finale in Greensboro on Sunday afternoon.
Following the loss, the Mocs fall to 23-24 overall and 7-6 in Southern Conference action. UNCG improves to 38-9 overall and continues to lead the SoCon with an 11-2 record.
A classic pitcher's duel broke out in Greensboro as both teams had been scoreless for five-plus innings.
Starters Celie Hudson and Alicia Bazonski went pitch-for-pitch in a rematch of game one of the series.
Chattanooga let opportunities slip in the top of the first and fourth innings as they stranded a combined five runners on base. They left 11 stranded for the entirety of the game, the most since March 25 against Mercer.
Hudson and the Mocs defense worked together to end UNCG threats all game long. The highlight came in the bottom of the second when center fielder Alyssa Coppinger fired one to catcher Amanda Beltran to nab a would-be run, ending the inning and keeping the game scoreless.
UNCG broke through and put up the game's first runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Spartans loaded the bases with two outs before Emily Acquaviva hit a soft-liner to shortstop that eventually dropped in on an error, allowing one run to cross the plate.
Stephanie Bryden followed with a pinch-hit, two-RBI double to extend their lead to 3-0. All three runs allowed by Hudson went down as unearned. Missed defensive chances behind relief pitcher Allison Swinford allowed UNCG to add a run in the sixth to extend their lead to 4-0.
Hudson (11-11) suffered the loss in the circle, but once again put together a stellar game. She allowed seven hits and no earned runs while striking out two. It marks the fourth time in her last five starts that she did not allow an earned run over six-plus innings of work.
For the first time in nearly a month, the Chattanooga offense was out-hit by their opposition. UNCG led the hit column by a slim 8-7 margin.
Aly Walker upped her hitting streak to five games with a 2-for-4 performance. She has recorded a hit in 11 of her last 12 games with five of those going for multiple hits. Devan Brown added her second multi-hit game in her last three with a 2-for-3 day at the plate.
Morgan Kazerooni added a pinch-hit double for the only extra-base hit for UTC. J.J. Hamill and Brook Womack added singles in the defeat.
Chattanooga and Tennessee Tech were originally supposed to meet on Tuesday for a non-conference game in Cookeville, but that game has been CANCELLED.
The Mocs will host SoCon rival ETSU next weekend (April 28-29) for a three-game series at Frost Stadium on Senior Weekend. Tickets can be purchased on GoMocs.com by visiting the schedule page or by calling (423) 266-MOCS.