UTC softball team heads to Auburn University for Tigers Invitational
The Lady Mocs softball team travels to Auburn, Ala., this weekend to play in the Auburn University Tigers Invitational, where they’ll take on Kansas, Tennessee State, Indiana state along with the hosting Tigers.
Chattanooga enters the the tournament with a 1-4 record after last weekend’s National Collegiate Softball Invitational at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. There, UTC dropped a pair of games to Fordham, and also suffered losses to Virginia Tech and Southern Illinois.
All-Southern Conference first-teamer Sara Poteat led the Lady Mocs’ offense on opening weekend with a team-leading eight hits and six runs scored. The senior from Thomaston, Ga., collected two doubles, a triple and also stole a base.
Taylor Deason was credited with the only win of the weekend, appearing in relief for the Lady Mocs’ victory over Long Island last Saturday. The sophomore right-hander stands at 1-2 with a 3.22 earned run average in 12.2 innings of work.
The Lady Mocs open play at the Invitational on Friday evening when they take on Kansas.
The Jayhawks (4-1) enter the tournament with wins over North Carolina State, Florida International and a doubleheader sweep against Georgetown. The team’s only loss was to NC State—a 3-2 setback in the second game of a doubleheader with the Wolfpack.
Alex Hugo has been leading Kansas at the plate with a .667 batting average and 10 hits on the year. The 5-8 freshman is leading the team in runs batted in (9) and home runs (3) in just 15 at bats. The Jayhawks’ pitching staff is led by Alicia Pille. The sophomore right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.97 ERA in 10.2 innings pitched.
Indiana State (4-1) enters with four wins on the season, claiming victories over IPFW, North Dakota along with a pair of wins over Northern Colorado. Iowa State is responsible for the team’s only loss thus far.
The Tennessee State Tigers (0-3) enter the tournament without a win after dropping theit first three games against Troy, South Alabama and Mississippi State.
Auburn (6-0), the only unbeaten team in the tournament field, captured wins over Furman, Samford, ETSU, Kent State, Army and Austin Peay in last weekend’s Plainsman Invitational.
Morgan Estell leads the Tigers’ offense with a .500 batting average with a team-leading 11 runs scored. She has seven hits, a double and triple on the year. The Tiger pitching staff is led by Marcy Harper who maintains a 1.53 ERA while leading the team with a 3-0 record, including two complete-game victories.