By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—Guided by a four-run seventh inning, the Univeristy of Tennessee-Chattanooga (23-21) was able to sneak a 6-2 victory by the Tennessee Tech softball team (16-27, 7-10 OVC).
The Mocs came out with their bats ready in the top of the first inning, when Anyssa Robles fired a single up the middle to drive in the first Chattanooga run of the day. However, in the bottom of the second, things started to shift in favor of the Golden Eagles.
Tech notched its first run when freshman Jessie Lowery hit a slow single to the shortstop, speedily beating the throw to the bag allowing Freels to score from third. Senior Sabrie Neeb then came up to the dish and singled up the middle to drive in Callen Griffin and notch the Golden Eagle's second and final run of the game.
The Mocs wasted no time, responding to the threat of a Tech victory in the top of the third tying the game at 2-2 with a Criket Blanco solo homerun to left field. Back-and-forth the two teams battled, Senior Hannah Weaver continued to fend off threats of a Chattanooga score from the circle, however, the Mocs finally struck in the top of the seventh when Blanco again stepped up the dish to notch a two-run homerun over the right field wall and take the 4-2 lead over Tech.
The Golden Eagles, made a quick pitching change with Taylor Waldrop taking Weaver's place in the circle. However, later in the inning, Chattanooga cushioned its lead further when Jordan Fortel came up to bat and hit a two-run homerun to right center, and secured the 6-2 Moc victory.
Weaver (2-8) suffered the loss for Tech, going for 6.0 innings and allowing four runs off of 11 hits. Cori Jennings (11-8) saw victory for Chattanooga pitching the complete game and allowing just two runs off of six hits.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Saturday when they travel to Murray State for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.