Softball Sweeps Furman, Runs Winning Streak to Nine

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Chattanooga ran its season-high winning streak to nine games and took over sole possession of the first place in the Southern Conference softball standings with a doubleheader sweep of Furman Saturday afternoon at chilly Frost Stadium.

UTC (24-13) staged a dramatic comeback to win 3-2 in the first game and then woke up the bats in an 8-0 whitewashing. Leah Tucker went 3-for-3 and delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the six inning to provide the winning run in the first game. In the nightcap, UTC rapped out 13 hits (the second-most of the season), including a home run and three RBIs off the bat of Jaci Welsh. Tucker went 5-for-6 with three RBIs in the two games, plus she stole two bases.

Dana Reed went 4-for-6, Angela Brewer was 3-for-7 with three RBIs and Welsh finished the afternoon 3-for-6 with three RBIs. In the opener, the Lady Mocs trailed Furman 2-0 until they scored three runs in the sixth. The Paladins scored an unearned run in the first on Kay Brittian's sacrifice fly, and then Kelli Leachman smashed a solo homer in the sixth.

In the UTC sixth, Brewer stroked a single to score Talya Trudell, who had walked, moved to second on Reed's single and got to third on a wild pitch. April Hudson ran for Brewer and Hudson and Reed both scored on Tucker's double.

Awbrey Winckler benefited from the offense to pick up her third win despite pitching just one inning. Beth Alexander worked the first five innings and did not give up an earned run, but she came back in to work the seventh for her first save.

In the second game, Talya Trudell pitched one of her best games of the season with a two-hit shutout that included four strikeouts and no walks. The first five batters in UTC's lineup -- Jolene Martin, Reed, Brewer, Tucker and Welsh -- each had two hits. The Lady Mocs struck for five runs in the fourth by sending 10 batters to the plate. Welsh led off with a homer and Trudell, Martin, Brewer and Tucker each had two-out, run-scoring hits. Trudell's was a double.

UTC and Furman conclude their series on Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m. at Frost Stadium.