Feb. 17, 2013
Auburn, Ala. - Chattanooga used a four-run fifth inning to overcome a three-run deficit and claim a 6-4 victory over the Auburn softball team Sunday afternoon at Jane B. Moore Field.
Auburn falls to 10-1 on the season while Chattanooga improved to 4-5. The Tigers return to action Wednesday at 5 p.m. at home against Georgia State.
"We made a lot of mistakes tonight," Auburn head coach Tina Deese said. "We didn't capitalize on some opportunities at the plate or with our pitching. We've got to learn from this and get better and prepare for a good Georgia State team this week."
Marcy Harper (3-1) took the loss in relief after allowing two runs, both earned, on six hits with three strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings. Hilary Mavromat started and went four and one-third innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Taylor Deason (3-3) earned the complete-game win, allowing four runs, none earned, on six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
Auburn took advantage of a pair of Chattanooga miscues to plate the first run of the game. In the bottom of the first, after the first two batters were retired Brooke Lathan hit a fly ball that right fielder Stephanie Rieck dropped for an error. Lathan took second on the play and took third on a wild pitch. After a walk to Caitlin Schultze, a second wild pitch brought Lathan home for a 1-0 Auburn lead.
Chattanooga tied the game in the top of the fourth inning, taking advantage of an Auburn error. Sam Taylor led off with a double to the wall in left-center. With one out, Sarah Beth Roberts put down a bunt which was fielded by Schultze who fired high to first. The ball sailed into foul territory allowing Taylor to score and even the game at 1-1. A sac bunt moved Roberts to third and was followed by a four-pitch walk to Stephanie Rieck. Jenny Garcia was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Mavromat worked out of the jam, however, when she forced Ninjja Suetsugu to ground out to first to end the inning.
The Tigers recaptured the lead in the bottom half of the fourth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Branndi Melero hit a ground ball that shortstop Alyssa Taylor booted, allowing McKenzie Kilpatrick (walk) to score from third to make it 2-1. Lathan followed with a double to the wall in left which scored Tiffany Howard (walk) and Morgan Estell (single) to give the Tigers a 4-1 edge.
Chattanooga rallied to take the lead in the top of the fifth. Anyssa Robles laced a single to right-center with one out to plate Sara Poteat (fielder's choice) to make it a 4-2 game. Taylor (walk) took third on the play to put runners on the corners. Harper came in for Mavromat following the RBI single while Carmen Wooden ran for Robles at first. Roberts made it a 4-3 game with a single through the right side which brought Taylor home for the Mocs.
A single to shallow left by Rieck loaded the bases and Jenny Garcia followed with a single to center on a 3-2 pitch that plated Wooden and Roberts to give the Mocs a 5-4 lead.
Roberts gave the Mocs a 6-4 lead in the top of the seventh with a one-out, solo home run over the wall in left. It came on the first pitch of the at-bat and was the first home run allowed by Harper this season.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers put a runner aboard when Lathan led off with a single through the left side but Deason didn't allow the Tigers to mount a rally as she retired the next three hitters to end the game.