The Chattanooga Mocs softball team saw a pair of late leads slip away and suffered a doubleheader sweep, 6-3 and 8-6 (9), against UNCG in the Southern Conference series opener on a sunny Saturday afternoon inside Jim Frost Stadium.
Following the defeats, Chattanooga falls to 9-20 overall and 5-5 in SoCon action. UNCG improves its season mark to 20-14 and league tally to 5-3. UTC drops into fourth place in the current league standings.
UNCG 6, Chattanooga 3
Chattanooga came out firing on offense in the bottom of the first inning and scored three runs on four hits to jump ahead to a quick 3-0 lead.
The Mocs plated an unearned run on a fielder's choice and error from UNCG before Liz Rodebaugh laced a two-out, two-run double to right center to cap off the inning.
UNCG answered in the top of the second inning on an RBI groundout to cut into the UTC lead, 3-1. Both teams were kept of the scoreboard until the final frame due to staller pitching in the circle from starters Hannah Wood (UTC) and Morgan Scott (UNCG).
UTC and Wood took the 3-1 lead into the top of the seventh and looked to close things out. After a first pitch out was recorded, UNCG recorded consecutive singles which landed runners at second and third with one out.
Chattanooga went to the bullpen and called on Brooke Sudduth to enter the circle in a save situation. Sudduth surrendered a pair of free passes to allow UNCG to pull within one, 3-2, before Kylie Coffin was called upon in another save situation. The Spartans would go on to plate four runs on three hits and one Mocs error to race ahead 6-3.
Chattanooga was held off the board in the home half of the final frame and suffered the defeat. Sudduth (0-3) recorded the loss in the circle after a lead-changing inherited run was credited to her stat line. Wood earned a no decision after tossing 6.2 innings and allowing just three earned runs on six hits.
The Mocs offense recorded seven hits and were led by Emily Coltharp, who finished 2-for-3. Rodebaugh added a 1-for-4, two RBI performance to help lead the team at the plate.
UNCG 8, Chattanooga 6 (9)
For consecutive games, Chattanooga struck for three runs in the first inning to jump ahead on the Spartans early. Adison Keylon laced an RBI double to right center before Cameren Swafford drew a bases loaded walk and Reagan Armour ripped an RBI single to center.
UTC continued the scoring in the home half of the second and fourth innings, plating a run in each to build a 5-0 lead. Hayleigh Weissenbach registered an RBI groundout in the second ahead of a Liz Rodebaugh RBI single in the fourth to sum up the scoring.
Starting pitcher Brooke Parrott was dominant over the first 4.2 innings of work. Parrott surrendered just three walks while striking out four before ultimately losing her no-hit bid with two outs in the fifth when Brooklynn Maxwell belted a two-run homer to left, pulling UNCG within three, 5-2.
The Spartans continued its long ball attack in the top of the sixth when Kayleigh Willis (three-run) and Katie Stettler belted back-to-back homers to put the visitors ahead 6-5 and forcing Parrott from the circle. Hannah Wood entered in relief and worked to minimize the damage.
Weissenbach came up big in the bottom of the sixth with a clutch two-out RBI single to right, scoring Emily Coltharp from second and tying the game 6-6. She was left stranded in scoring position after an inning-ending pop out.
Wood retired the Spartans in order in the top of the seventh and allowed just a walk in the eighth to give the Mocs opportunities for a walk-off. That nearly happened in the bottom of the seventh when Gracey Kruse ripped a double to center, brining pinch-runner Sidney Swantic all the way around. Swantic was nailed at the plate by an inch on a stellar 8-6-2 relay from UNCG.
UNCG recorded its game-winning runs in the top of the ninth inning when Hannah Kincer led off the frame with a solo homer to center. Delaney Cumbie added an insurance run with a two-out RBI double to left which put Greensboro ahead 8-6. The Mocs were retired in order in the bottom of the inning.
Wood (5-7) suffered the defeat in the circle after another solid stint, going the final 3.2 innings while allowing only three hits and two earned runs. Parrott took the no decision after surrendering six earned runs on four hits while striking out four.
Chattanooga exploded for 12 hits in the defeat and were led by another multi-hit performance from Coltharp who went 3-for-5 with three runs scored. Armour posted her first career three-hit game with a 3-for-4, RBI day at the dish. Rodebaugh and Keylon also joined in with a multi-hit effort, each going 2-for-5 with a run driven in.
Chattanooga (9-20, 5-5 SoCon) wraps up the three-game series with UNCG tomorrow for a single game finale starting at 2 p.m. ET. The game can be streamed LIVE on ESPN+ with game coverage links located on the schedule page.