Chattanooga Takes Softball Series Opener
5/1/2011 1:11:00 AM | Softball
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Georgia Southern Softball could not contain the Chattanooga bats on Saturday, April 30th, as the Mocs opened the three-game series with a five-inning 8-0 win over the Eagles. A leadoff single up the middle by Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) got the game off to a good start, but the Eagles would record just two more hits and did not score a run for the first time in the month of April.
"We are at the point in our season where we can't allow a loss to be a setback," said Head Coach Maggie Johnson. "We have been playing great softball and we need to regroup for our doubleheader tomorrow. Mental toughness is a huge part of our game and right now ours is being tested. I am confident we will come out strong tomorrow for the regular season finale."
The Eagles are now 28-25 on the season with a 16-6 record in the Southern Conference. Chattanooga improved to 33-12 and 15-3 in the SoCon.
Chattanooga sprang out to a 3-0 lead in the game's opening inning with three runs off two hits, including a one-run double by Kasey Tydingoo. The Mocs scored once in the second frame to take a 4-0 lead. Freshman pitcher Allie Miles (Dacula, Ga.) entered the game in the second and struck out two Chattanooga batters to eclipse the 150 strikeout threshold for the season. She finished the game with three strikeouts and ranks in a tie for seventh on the GSU single-season chart with 152.
In the third inning, the Mocs added a run and put an end to Miles' streak of 26.0 innings without an earned run. The earned run gave UTC a 5-0 lead through three complete innings.
Tiffany Baker extended the UTC advantage to 7-0 in the fourth inning with a two-run home run to right-center. Chattanooga added another run in the inning and made the score 8-0 after four innings. The Eagles were unable to score in the top of the fifth as Chattanooga took the five-inning run rule victory.
Georgia Southern closes out the 2011 regular season on Sunday, May 1st, with the series finale against Chattanooga. The afternoon doubleheader begins at noon at Chattanooga's Frost Stadium.
The 2011 Southern Conference Softball Championships begin on May 11th at Georgia Southern's Eagle Field. For more information about the 2011 tournament, please visit SoConSports.com.
Fans may follow all the action of the 2011 Georgia Southern Softball season by visiting GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/softball or check in for scores at twitter.com/GSScores or facebook.com/GSAthletics for updates.
