Chattanooga Defeats Cougars 4-1

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Two Chattanooga pitchers combined to allow three hits Wednesday in a 4-1 triumph over SIUE in college softball action.

SIUE, 7-11, is on a five-game road swing this week. The Cougars next travel to Georgia Tech Thursday for a 6 p.m. ET contest before heading to its first Ohio Valley Conference games at UT Martin this weekend.

The Cougars scored first in Wednesday's single game at Frost Stadium. Lindsey Barron opened the game by drawing a walk. After stealing second, Alex McDavid put the Cougars ahead with an RBI single.

"We talked about wanting to score first and then shut them down. And we did that," said SIUE Head Coach Sandy Montgomery.

Chattanooga, 11-8, however were not shut down for long enough. The Mocs took the lead in the second inning. Vivian Morimoto provided a solo home run to right field. Layne Rainey would put the Mocs ahead 2-1 with an RBI single to score Sarah Beth Roberts.

The Mocs picked up a solo home run by Cheyenne Willis in the third inning and an RBI single by pinch hitter Jessica Traxler in the sixth. Chattanooga outhit the Cougars 9-3.

Montgomery said after the Mocs put up a few runs the Cougars didn't have the answer.

"We have to find a way to be tougher and fight harder," said Montgomery.

Michelle Fuzzard started the game for the Mocs and went four innings. She improved her season record to 4-5. Taylor Deason threw the final three innings for Chattanooga and picked up her first save. Amanda Lambrecht went the distance for the Cougars. She matched her season high with seven strikeouts and is now 4-4 overall.