A wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth drove in the game winning run for Chattanooga who came away with a 1-0 win over Kennesaw State Tuesday evening at Frost Stadium.
In a defensive battle that saw just three combined hits, the game headed to extra innings deadlocked at 0-0.
The Owls placed a runner at second to start the eighth as per the international tie break rule. The first pitch was an attempted sac bunt, but it was popped up and caught for the first out. However, a wild pitch moved the runner over to third.
The next batter hit the ball back to Peja Goold in the circle.
Goold held the lead runner on her break toward home and threw her out as she tried to make it back to third for the second out.
A sharp hit to Kailey Snell at short was the final out of the inning for Kennesaw State.
In the bottom of the inning, Abby Orr was placed at second to pinch run for Presley Williamson. Jayce Purdy led off and laid down a bunt to move Orr to third. A wild pitch that got away, making its way along the third base line, was enough to score Orr for the win.
Chattanooga spaced out its two hits with Camryn Cernuto leading off the fourth with a single. She advanced to second on a ground out but was stranded in scoring position.
Lexi Cooley led off the bottom of the sixth with UTC’s second base hit of the game. She advanced to second on a sacrifice by Zoe Wright and made it to third on a passed ball with just one out, but was also stranded.
Goold pitched her fourth one-hitter of the season, striking out seven in her 10th win. The Stockton, Calif., junior walked two and went the distance for the 10th time and picked up her fifth shutout of the year.
The no-hitter was broken up on a hit up the middle. Wright was able to get to the ball traveling hard toward second, but wasn’t in time to get the out at first.
Chattanooga opens Southern Conference play Saturday with a double header against UNC Greensboro at Frost Stadium. Tickets are available online at GoMocs.com or at the Frost Stadium ticket booth one hour prior to first pitch.
It’s a Barbie® Saturday for the Mocs. Scrappy Cowboy hats will be given away at the gate until they run out. Be sure to wear your Scrappy Cowboy hat Sunday for the Western Hoedown.