College of Charleston
Chattanooga
College of Charleston drops season finale 9-3 to Chattanooga
5/9/2010 8:00:00 PM | Softball
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The College of Charleston (24-27, 10-13) dropped its season finale against Chattanooga (39-15, 19-5) by a 9-3 score in the finale of its Southern Conference softball series on Sunday, May 9.
Following a scoreless first inning, Chattanooga struck with a pair of runs in the second as senior catcher Brittany Eason dropped a ball into right center that went for a two-out, two-RBI double. The Cougars were then able to get out of the inning as junior outfielder Kristi Woodall (Huntersville, N.C.) tracked down a deep fly to left center despite a collision as she made the catch.
Senior pitcher Brooke Loudermilk struck out the first two College of Charleston batters in the top of the third before losing the strike zone and walking the next three batters to load the bases. Sophomore third baseman Katie Forbes (Odessa, Fla.) then took advantage of the lack of command as she hit a ball deep in the hole to shortstop that she beat out for a hit. That brought home CofC's first run of the game to make it 2-1 before a third strike out would end the inning.
It was UTC's turn to answer in the home half of the third as three straight hits, keyed by a leadoff double by junior outfielder Lyndsey Stiles, led to a third run to make it 3-1. That was only the beginning as junior third baseman Tiffany Baker ripped a ball to right center for two more runs on a double and she was singled home by freshman first baseman Kasey Tydingco to push the lead to 6-1.
The Lady Mocs would add three more runs, capped by a two-RBI double by junior outfielder Lauren Flores, to finish the inning with a 9-1 advantage. Facing the end of their season, the Cougars would not go quietly as they benefited from a pair of errors and two walks in the top of the fifth. Those contributed to a pair of runs, one directly, as CofC avoided the early exit. A bases loaded single to right by junior outfielder Katie Nutaitis (Vienna, Va.) accounted for the other Cougars' run.
The College of Charleston mounted a rally in the top of the seventh as junior outfielder Kristi Woodall (Huntersville, N.C.) doubled to leadoff the frame and Kristie Shifflett singled to put runners on first and third with no one out. A strike out and a double-play would end that rally however and give UTC a 9-3 victory.
Brittany Eason was 3-for-3 with three RBIs to lead Chattanooga while Lauren Flores was 2-for-4 with two RBIs off a double. Tiffany Baker also added two RBIs with a double and Blosser and Tydingco each chipped in with an RBI. Loudermilk earned the win for the Lady Mocs to improve to 17-11.
For the College of Charleston, Katie Forbes went 1-for-3 with an RBI while Nutaitis was 1-for-4 with the only other RBI. Sophomore outfielder Amanda Lonergan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) scored two of the Cougars' three runs and senior designated hitter Kristie Shifflett (Virginia Beach, Va.) had the only other hit of the day and drew a pair of walks. Woodall also walked twice.
The College of Charleston closes out 2010 with a 24-27 overall record and 10-13 mark in the Southern Conference.
NOTES
Kristie Shifflett's finishes the season with a program record 38 walks, surpassing the program mark for walks in a single season.
