Chattanooga put together a six-run third inning with just two hits to grab an 8-3 win over No. 3 Samford Friday morning to advance to the Southern Conference Championship game on Saturday.
Samford took an early lead with a run in the top of the first. The Mocs responded with a two-run blast from Olivia Lipari to go up 2-0. Samford retook the lead in the top of the second with two runs, but it was all Chattanooga in the third.
Camryn Cernuto led off the inning with a single.
Lipari, trying to lay down a sac bunt, reached on a throwing error and both runners were safe with Cernuto ending up on third. Acelynn Sellers was hit by a pitch to load the bases and the Mocs scored the tying run when Baileigh Pitts was hit by a pitch in the next at bat.
Samford switched pitchers. The Bulldogs got the first out of the inning on a force out at home. Raven Jones grounded out to the shortstop on the next at bat, but drove in the go ahead run.
Mia Leone, pinch hitting for Lexi Cooley, drew a walk to once again load the bases. Zoe Wright reached on an error at first base, plating Purdy and Pitts to put the Mocs up 6-3.
The final blow came on a single to left by Kailey Snell. The ball was booted away and two more runs scored to make it an 8-3 Chattanooga advantage.
Samford put two on in the top of the fourth, but the duo was stranded. The Bulldogs went in order in the fifth, stranded the lead off in the sixth and went 1-2-3 in the seventh.
Chattanooga had just five hits on the day led by Cernuto who was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Lipari drove in two on one hit with a home run. She was hit to reach base once and had a sac fly. Snell, Pitts and Jones each had an RBI in the win.
Peja Goold went five innings, struck out three, gave up three hits and did not allow a run. She improved to 25-6 on the year and is tied with Beth Alexander (’02) for fourth on the Mocs single-season list.
Chattanooga will take on the winner of Game 11 to be played today at 4:00 p.m. The winner of Game 10 (Mercer/UNCG) will take on Samford in Game 11. The Championship Game is set for 1:00 p.m. Saturday.