The Chattanooga softball team finished up play last weekend’s Auburn University Tiger Invitational on Sunday by handing the hosting Tigers their first loss of the season.
UTC’s Taylor Deason picked up the complete-game win in the Lady Mocs’ 6-4 victory, as the sophomore right-hander scattered six hits while striking out eight.
Sophomore Sarah Beth Roberts led Chattanooga offensively, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate with a two runs batted in and two runs scored, while junior catcher Stephanie Rieck also had a pair of hits for the Lady Mocs.
UTC (4-5), which faced a one-run deficit after one inning of play, knotted things up with a run in the top of the fourth. Sam Taylor led off the frame with a double to left-center field, and the freshman from Chickamauga, Ga., scored from second later in the inning on a throwing error by the Tigers.
Deason wasn’t charged with a single earned run in the narrow victory.
Auburn added three runs off three hits in the bottom half with the help of a critical two-out fielding error, but Chattanooga’s offense finally came to life in the top of the fifth. Roberts and Reick, along with freshmen Alyssa Taylor, Anyssa Robles, and Jenny Garcia, each recorded hits in the four-run frame that spotted UTC its first lead of the contest.
The Lady Mocs finished the tournament at 3-1, including lopsided wins over Indiana State and Tennessee State. The team’s only loss was a 6-1 setback to Kansas on Friday evening.
UTC returns to action this weekend when it hosts the Frost Classic at Jim Frost Stadium. Chattanooga’s home opener against Eastern Kentucky is set for Friday (3:30 p.m.). Lady Mocs will also host Lipscomb, Miami of Ohio, Boston College and Missouri State in the three-day tournament.