Alexander's One-Hitter Leads UTC's 10th Straight Win

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Beth Alexander tossed a one-hitter as Chattanooga won its 10th consecutive game and completed the three-game series sweep over Furman with a 1-0 victory at breezy Frost Stadium Sunday afternoon.

Alexander (14-5) struck out nine and walked one in winning her fourth consecutive decision. She lowered her ERA to 1.12 and has now given up just two earned runs in her last 11 games. Chattanooga (25-13 overall and 8-0 in the Southern Conference) scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth off Furman ace Chrissy Hacker, who entered the game in that inning. Leah Tucker drew a one-out walk and Jaci Welsh's sacrifice bunt was mishandled to put runners at first and third.

Following Furman's lengthy team meeting on the infield, the first pitch to batter Tara Garner went to the backstop and Tucker scooted home on the wild pitch. Alexander made the run stand up with a one-two-three seventh -- the fifth time she retired Furman (12-20, 3-3) in order on the day. Alexander allowed just one ball out of the infield -- a lazy fly to right in the sixth. She retired the first nine batters in order before LaKerah Barr legged out an infield single starting the fourth.

UTC had two opportunities to score early in the game but left two runners on base in the first and third innings and had a runner caught stealing in the second.