Miscues cost Mocs in 13-2 loss to Kennesaw State

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (UTC Athletics) — The Chattanooga Mocs softball team surrendered a nine-run fourth inning to Kennesaw State during a 13-2 (5) run-rule loss on the final day of the Chattanooga Challenge inside Jim Frost Stadium on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Following the loss, Chattanooga falls to 2-3 to open the young 2021 campaign. Kennesaw State avenged last night’s loss to UTC to improve to 2-6 this season.

After a two-run homer from KSU’s Lexi Solorzano in the top of the first, Cameren Swafford answered with a two-run shot of her own in the home half to tie things at 2-2.

The Owls broke the tie in the top of the third with a pair of RBI via a fielder’s choice off the bat of Taylor Cates and a SAC fly from Brinaya Bailey to pull ahead 4-2. A nine-run (four unearned) top of the fourth put the visitors ahead for good in its route to a 13-2 mercy-rule victory.

Scoring plays, notes and more are below.

GAME 1 – KSU 13, UTC 2 | BOX
SCORING PLAYS
T1st: Lexi Solorzano (KSU) homered down the left field, 2 RBI. (KSU 2-0)
B1st: Cameren Swafford (UTC) homered to left center, 2 RBI. (Tied 2-2)
T3rd: Taylor Cates (KSU) reached on a fielder’s choice to first base, RBI. (KSU 3-2)
T3rd: Brinaya Bailey (KSU) flied out to right field, SAC, RBI. (KSU 4-2)
T4th: Cheyanne Sales (KSU) tripled to right field, RBI. (KSU 5-2)
T4th: Faith Alexander (KSU) singled to left field, RBI. (KSU 6-2)
T4th: Brea Dickey (KSU) reached on an error by pitcher, SAC, scored on an error by right field, Alexander scored. (KSU 8-2)
T4th: Brinaya Bailey (KSU) doubled to right center, 2 RBI. (KSU 10-2)
T4th: Faith Alexander (KSU) tripled to right field, 3 RBI. (KSU 13-2)

WP: Melanie Bennett (2-3) | 4IP, 6H, 2ER
LP: Brooke Parrott (0-2) | 3IP, 5H, 6R, 6ER, K
SV: None

Notable
– Chattanooga falls to 2-3 on the year after suffering the loss.
– Cameren Swafford went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer… third homer of her career…
– Courtney Ball finished 1-for-2 today… finished the weekend batting .615 (8-for-13) with five two doubles and five RBI… slugged at a 1.000 clip… .615% OBP.
– Emily Coltharp went 2-for-3 on Sunday… has recorded a hit in last eight games dating back to 2020… 13 of the last 14 games.
– Kailey Snell finished the Challenge batting .400 (6-for-15) with five runs scored and six RBI… stole a base and reached base safely at a .438% percentage.