The Chattanooga Mocs softball season starts this weekend with the Frank Griffin Classic hosted by Stetson in DeLand, Fla. UTC will take on Fairleigh Dickinson in the opener Friday morning before facing off against Binghamton and the host Hatters.
This is the fourth meeting between the Mocs and FDU with the Knights leading the series 1-2. The Mocs won the first meeting 6-4 at the NTC Elite Invitational in Clermont, Fla. The two would meet again 12 days later at the Frost Classic with UTC falling 8-7 in eight innings. The final meeting was again in Clermont at the Dot Richardson Invitational.
Chattanooga and Binghamton have not faced off before and will meet up twice this weekend. This is the second time UTC and the Hatters will meet. Stetson beat UTC 1-2 in the Mocs first season (1994) at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta, Ga.
Chattanooga is picked by the Southern Conference coaches to defend its 2024 title. UTC received six of the eight votes for 48 points. Peja Goold, the 2024 SoCon Pitcher of the Year and Tournament MVP was selected the preseason favorite for Player of the Year. She was joined on the All-SoCon First Team by outfielder Cam Cernuto while Baileigh Pitts, Olivia Lipari and Kailey Snell were named to the Second Team.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Feb. 7 9:30 a.m. vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
Feb. 7 12:00 p.m. vs. Binghamton
Feb. 8 12:00 p.m. vs. Binghamton
Feb. 8 5:30 p.m. at Stetson
Feb. 9 12:30 p.m. at Stetson