Chattanooga softball fell in back-to-back games against Western Carolina in Southern Conference softball action Saturday afternoon at Frost Stadium.
The Mocs pitching staff struck out 22 batters and walked just four, but the Catamounts scored 10 runs, nine earned on 14 hits over the two games to claim the series win.
Kailey Snell went 5-for-8 on the day for UTC in her lead off spot, driving in a run and scoring twice. Olivia Lipari had a double and a two-run home run. Presley Williamson had an RBI while Jayce Purdy and Acelynn Sellers each recorded a double.
RECORDS
Chattanooga: 26-11, 5-3 SoCon)
Western Carolina: 20-20, 4-5 SoCon)
GAME 1: Western Carolina 7, Chattanooga 3
Western Carolina scored three runs in the first on a walk, double and a home run to take the early lead.
However, it looked like a possible offensive battle with two Chattanooga runs in the bottom of the inning.
Kailey Snell reached on an infield single to start the inning and advanced to second on a groundout. She came home on a home run off the bat of Olivia Lipari to center to make it a 3-2 game.
After going 1-2-3 in the second, the Catamounts added a run in the third. Lily Bell drew a walk, stole second and took third on a single to shallow center. She scampered home on a ground out to first to put WCU up 4-2.
Chattanooga got that run back in the bottom of the third. Snell, leading off again, singled to left center. Lipari doubled to right center to put Snell on third and the Mocs shortstop scored on a sac fly by Presly Williamson to draw Chattanooga back to within a run.
Western Carolina put a run on the board in each of the final three innings to get the win and even the series with the Mocs.
Snell went 4-for-4 in the game, scoring twice. Lipari was 2-for-3 with a double, home run and two RBI. Taylor Hall tallied her first loss of the season to move to 9-1 overall. She struck out 10, walked three and gave up six earned runs.
GAME 2: Western Carolina 3, Chattanooga 2
Chattanooga fell behind early, but picked up the lead midway through the game. Western Carolina grabbed the lead in the fifth and held on to claim the series win in the second game Saturday.
The Catamounts had three singles and scored the first run of the game in the third inning Saturday afternoon.
Chattanooga responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning to tie it up. Camryn Cernuto reached first outrunning an infield hit. She advanced to second on a groundout and stole third. A fielding error by the shortstop allowed her to cross the plate and tie it up 1-1.
The Mocs took a one-run lead in the fourth. Acelynn Sellers long drive to center bounced over the fence for a ground rule double, stopping what surely would have been a triple for the senior. With two outs, Snell singled down the left field line to score Sellers from second, giving UTC the lead at 2-1. Snell stole second and was thrown out at the plate on a sharply hit ball up the middle.
Western Carolia scored two runs in the fifth to take the lead and held on for the win.
Peja Goold struck out 12 in the game, walking one and allowed eighth hits and three earned runs. Cernuto went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Snell was 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Chattanooga will hit the road for the next two weekends for Southern Conference action at Furman (4/12-13) and Wofford (4/19-20). UTC will host Lipscomb (4/15) and Tennessee State (4/16) at Frost Stadium between the two series.