For video of UNCG coach Jennifer Herzig's postgame comments, click here.
STATESBORO, Ga. – Chattanooga's Nikki Waters and Kandice Irwin combined on a three-hitter as the top-seeded Lady Mocs handed sixth-seeded UNCG its first loss of the Southern Conference Softball Championship on Friday, 13-0.
Jordan Jewett and Kaitlin Merkt had the lone hits of the day for UNCG (26-31), which will face either College of Charleston or Appalachian State on Saturday at 11 a.m. in an elimination game for the right to face Chattanooga in the title game at 1:30 p.m.
Chattanooga (41-12) wasted no time getting on the board, rapping out four hits to score a run in the top of the first inning. Sara Poteat, Michelle Fuzzard and Tiffany Baker strung together three straight one-out hits to load the bases before a fielder's choice erased Poteat at the plate. Kasey Tydingco then hit a slow roller deep in the hole at short to bring home Fuzzard with the Lady Mocs' first run of the game.
The Lady Mocs tacked on an unearned run in the top of the third, putting together a rally after UNCG turned a 6-4-3 double play to erase a leadoff hit. Baker reached on a Spartan error, then Vivian Morimoto singled to right field to set the stage for Tyndingco's RBI single to center.
Eileen Horsmon nearly had UNCG's first hit in the bottom of the fifth, smoking a ball to the gap in right center. Right fielder Della Harrison made a fantastic grab on the run, however, to keep Waters' no-hitter intact. After Kaitlin Merkt walked, Jewett broke up the no-no with a clean single up the middle, knocking Waters from the game.
Irwin then came on and got Chattanooga out of the jam, getting a fielder's choice and a groundout to end the UNCG threat.
Chattanooga blew the game open with four runs in the sixth, highlighted by a two-run double from Baker and Morimoto's RBI single down the right field line, and added seven more in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Baker and Jessica Traxler had two-run singles in the frame, while Lauren Flores had a two-run triple.
The Spartans got a bit of a rally going in the bottom half of the frame, with Merkt smoking a single off the first base bag and Jewett following with a high chopper down the third base line. Irwin preserved the shutout by inducing a groundout the end the game.
April Langley was UNCG's only other base-runner of the day, as she drew a leadoff walk in the fourth after Waters retired the Spartans in order the first time through the lineup.
Tydingco was 4-for-4 and was hit by a pitch to lead the Lady Mocs at the plate, while Baker, Flores and Lyndsey Stiles had three hits each. Chattanooga banged out a season-high 20 hits in the contest.
Jewett was 2-for-3 for UNCG.
Waters (12-3) allowed one hit and two walks in 4 1/3 innings, while Irwin surrendered two hits in 2 2/3 innings for her seventh save of the season.
UNCG starter Cory Mattson, who earned wins in the Spartans' first two contests of the tournament, fell to 14-14 after allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. Raeanne Hanks allowed four runs in five hits and two walks in 2 2/3, while Josie Felix was tagged for seven runs on eight hits and two walks in an inning or work.
The Spartans will take the field Saturday vying for their second straight trip to the SoCon Championship title game. UNCG reached the championship contest for the first time in school history last season.
AGATE
Chattanooga 13, UNCG 0 (May 13, 2011 at Statesboro, Ga.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chattanooga......... 101 004 7 - 13 20 0 (41-12)
UNCG................ 000 000 0 - 0 3 1 (26-31)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Chattanooga - Nikki Waters; Kandice Irwin(5). UNCG - Cory Mattson; Raeanne Hanks(4); Josie Felix(7).
Win-Nikki Waters(12-3) Save-Kandice Irwin(7) Loss-Cory Mattson(14-14) T-2:08 A-0
Weather: 93 degrees, partly cloudy
- UNCG -
