Mocs Softball Hosts Samford In Weekend Series

UTC Needs Win To Advance To SoCon Tournament

Friday, May 7, 2021

The Chattanooga Mocs softball team is set to close out regular season play this weekend against Southern Conference foe Samford in a crucial three-game series on Saturday and Sunday inside Jim Frost Stadium.

Saturday's doubleheader kicks off at 1 p.m. ET while Sunday's single game series finale is set for a 2 p.m.

ET first pitch. All three games will be LIVE on ESPN+. General public tickets remain for both days and can be purchased by clicking this link. Student tickets can be reserved by clicking here.

Due to COVID schedule adjustments ahead of the season, only four teams will advance to next week's SoCon Tournament which will be hosted by the regular season champ. Chattanooga (11-22, 6-7 SoCon) currently sits fourth in the SoCon regular season standings heading into the weekend and will need to win at least two of three games to extend its season.

Sitting in sixth place, Samford (17-25, 6-9 SoCon) enters the weekend in need of a series sweep to have a chance to advance to next week's championship. Samford and UTC last met to close out the 2019 regular season where the Mocs clinched a wild series victory with a pair of Sunday wins to halt the Bulldogs bid for a SoCon title.

Full series preview including game coverage information, notes, stadium guidelines and more are below.

SCHEDULE | TICKETS
Saturday, May 8
vs. Samford – 1:00 p.m. ET (STATS) (ESPN+)
vs. Samford – 3:30 p.m. ET (STATS) (ESPN+)

Sunday, May 9
vs. Samford – 2:00 p.m. ET (STATS) (ESPN+)

FAN/STADIUM GUIDELINES & PROTOCOLS
· All players, coaches, staff and guests attending the games MUST adhere to mask mandates and social distancing guidelines. Anyone violating these game day protocols may be asked to leave Frost Stadium and risk losing ticket privileges for subsequent games.

· Fans may park in the parking lots beside the stadium and enter through the main gate at the front of Frost Stadium. Masks must be worn at all times. Water fountains will not be operable. Additionally, there are NO PETS ALLOWED. Concessions will be CLOSED.

· The first three rows behind the backstop will be CLOSED to participant guest seating. Every other row in the stands will be closed off.

CHATTANOOGA NOTES | FULL
MOCS LOOK FOR SERIES WIN, TOURNEY APP
· Chattanooga enters the weekend off its BYE week last weekend and follows a rain-shortened series split at Furman back on April 25. UTC comes in 11-22 overall and 6-7 in SoCon play, currently sitting fourth in the league standings. The Mocs will need to win at least 2 of 3 games this weekend to advance to next week's SoCon Tournament.

ABOUT THE SAMFORD BULLDOGS
· Samford travels to the Scenic City with a 17-25 overall mark and 6-9 record in SoCon play this season. The Bulldogs sit sixth and will need a series sweep over UTC to play its way towards the SoCon Tournament. Samford has struggled in road games this year, playing to a 1-13 overall and 0-6 mark in the league.

SMALL "BALL"
· Freshman infielder Courtney Ball leads all of NCAA Division I in sacrifice bunts per game with a 0.38 average. Ball's 12 successful sacrifice bunts this season is tied for 10th most in a single season in program history and currently ranks second in NCAA DI.

SENIOR WEEKEND
· Chattanooga will honor its three seniors this season, Kacie Lynch, Cameren Swafford & Hayleigh Weissenbach with a post-game recognition ceremony following Sunday's series finale. The Mocs will welcome back members of the 2020 class who had its season cut short last year due to COVID-19.

FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA SOFTBALL
For the most up-to-date information and news regarding Chattanooga Softball, please follow @GoMocsSB on Twitter & Instagram and Chattanooga Softball on Facebook.