Bears Split Pair Of Tight Decisions At SoCon-Leading Chattanooga

Saturday, April 20

Chattanooga, Tenn.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

19-23, 0

Chattanooga

30-11, 0

Mercer

Chattanooga

Bears Split Pair Of Tight Decisions At SoCon-Leading Chattanooga

4/20/2024 2:55:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Kassidy Moore's 1-out sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning was enough to support an absolute gem of an outing from right-hander Hannah Pitts as the Mercer softball team forged a split with Southern Conference-leading Chattanooga on Saturday with a 1-0 extra-innings win over the Mocs in the nightcap of a series-opening doubleheader.

Chattanooga built a 3-0 lead in Saturday's opener, but had to hold off a furious late-inning rally by the Orange & Black to register a 4-3 triumph.

The Bears (20-23, 9-5 SoCon) have now won 11 of the last 14 contests in the series with their league rivals dating back to the 2019 campaign, including four of the last five matchups at UTC's Frost Stadium. Chattanooga (30-12, 10-4) had won four of its last five outings before Saturday's late setback.

Grace Taylor (9-10) and Pitts (5-7) both registered their ninth complete game outings of the season on Saturday. Taylor sadded the loss in the twinbill opener despite striking out a pair and scattering seven hits. Pitts allowed just two hits – a leadoff single in the fourth and a 2-out triple in the sixth – on the way to her second shutout of the campaign. It was just the third time this season that UTC has been held scoreless.

SUMMARY
GAME 1 FINAL	Chattanooga 4, Mercer 3
PITCHERS	WP: Alyssa Lavdis (8-4) LP: Grace Taylor (9-10) Save: Peja Goold (1)

GAME 2 FINAL	Mercer 1, Chattanooga 0 (8 Innings)
PITCHERS	WP: Hannah Pitts (5-7) LP: Peja Goold (4-3)

RECORDS	Mercer 20-23 (9-5 SoCon); Chattanooga 30-12 (10-4 SoCon)

KEY INNINGS (GAME 1)
BOT 2	The Mocs used a leadoff single and ensuing error to eventually move a pair of runners into scoring position with one out. Jayce Purdy's 2-run single two batters later gave the hosts the lead for good.

KEY INNINGS (GAME 2)
TOP 8	Alyssa Woods drew a leadoff bean ball, and Janessa Plummer legged out an infield single, to get a pair of runners aboard for the Bears. Avery Barton moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice hit to set the table for Kassidy Moore who drove a 2-strike offering from UTC starter Peja Goold to the warning track that allowed Woods to scamper home easily.

MU LEADERS (GAME 1)	UTC LEADERS (GAME 1)
Kassidy Moore 2-3, 2B, R Emma Dorval 1-3, 2B, RBI Laura Vigna 0-1, BB, SF, RBI Tori Hedgecock 1-3, RBI	Jayce Purdy 2-3, 3 RBI Olivia Lipari 1-3, 2B, RBI Kailey Snell 1-3, R Peja Goold 1.1 IP, H, K

MU LEADERS (GAME 2)	UTC LEADERS (GAME 2)
Janessa Plummer 2-3, BB Laura Vigna 1-3 Hannah Pitts 8.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K	Camryn Cernuto 2-4, 3B Peja Goold 8.0 IP, 3 H, 9 K

UP NEXT
The Bears will tangle with Chattanooga in the series rubber game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Frost Stadium.

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