The Chattanooga softball team was edged out by Lindenwood in the opening game Saturday before falling to North Alabama in the Mocs second game of the Chattanooga Challenge at Frost Stadium.
Senior Olivia Lipari went 3-for-6 on the day with a home run and double. She drove in one run, scored twice and drew a walk to lead the Mocs, batting .500. Baileigh Pitts drove in a run, hitting 2-for-4 while Jayce Purdy got the Mocs scoring started Saturday with a home run against Lindenwood.
Chattanooga’s pitching staff struck out 12 on the day with Peja Goold (6) and Taylor Long (5) combing to strike out 11 against Lindenwood.
Riley Lamb threw a complete game against North Alabama.
CHATTANOOGA 4, LINDENWOOD 5 Olivia Lipari drove a home run over the fence in center field to bring the Mocs to within a run of Lindenwood, but the rally never came. Chattanooga fell 5-4 to the Lions in the opening game Saturday morning at Frost Stadium.
Jayce Purdy got the scoring started with a home run to left center, cutting the Lions lead in half at 2-1 in the second inning. Lindenwood doubled its run total in the third with a two-run homer before Chattanooga got a pair of RBI singles in the bottom of the inning.
Acelynn Sellers drove home Camryn Cernuto with a single to left field and Baileigh Pitts followed that with a single up the middle, driving home Lipari to make it 4-3.
A home run for Lindenwood gave the Lions the insurance run they needed to lead 5-3 after five.
Chattanooga drew to within one on a home run off the bat of Lipari with two outs, hoping to spark a rally. The effort was squelched, however, as a fly out ended the game.
CHATTANOOGA 0, NORTH ALABAMA 5 The Mocs put up three hits, but could string enough together to get any runs across the plate. Olivia Lipari, Zoe Wright and Mia Leone each recorded a hit for the Mocs against the Lions.
Acelynn Sellers was the Mocs first base runner, walking in the second inning on four straight balls. With two outs, Jayce Purdy was hit and the two advanced on a wild pitch to get into scoring position. A walk loaded the bases, but the Mocs inning ended with a fly out.
Again with two outs, the Mocs put a runner in scoring position in the third inning on a double from Lipari, but couldn’t get her around the bases.
The fifth once again saw the Mocs reach with two outs. A fielding error by first allowed Kailey Snell to reach, but she would be stranded on a ground out.
Freshman Mia Leone picked up a hit in the seventh inning, pinch hitting for Purdy. She singled to right and with two outs, Wright singled to center, putting runners at first and second. A walk by Snell loaded the bases with two out, but the Mocs were not able to get a run home.
Chattanooga drops to 2-7 overall after winning its first two games of the season. The Chattanooga Challenge comes to a close Sunday with a Noon meeting between the Mocs and Lindenwood. Tickets are on sale online at GoMocs.com or at the Frost Stadium ticket booth one hour prior to first pitch.
NORTH ALABAMA 8, LINDENWOOD 0 / 5 INNINGS In a battle of the Lions, North Alabama came away with a 8-0 run-rule win over Lindenwood with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to improve to 9-0 on the year. Lindenwood moved to 4-4 after falling in the nightcap Saturday.