Game 1: Chattanooga 5, Furman 2

Game 2: Furman 6, Chattanooga 5

Greenville, S.C. -- Candace Johnson smacked two home runs and Elise Smith plated the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the top of the seventh as Furman downed Chattanooga, 6-5, in game two and claimed a doubleheader split with the Mocs in Southern Conference softball action on Friday at Jim Frost Stadium. The Mocs edged Furman, 5-2, in game one.

GAME 1
Leadoff hitter Sam Taylor went 3-for-4 with three RBI and scored two runs to propel Chattanooga to a 5-2 victory over Furman in the SoCon opener for both teams.

The Paladins took the first inning lead when Johnson belted a solo shot to start the game, but Taylor evened the contest in the bottom of the third inning for the Mocs by reaching on a leadoff double and scoring the tying run on a sacrifice fly.

The Mocs took the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth inning as Taylor delivered a two-out, RBI single to score Kailey Palazzolo and came around to score on an error on a grounder to second base by Alyssa Taylor that would have ended the inning.

Sieara Bishop walked to open the sixth inning and AnnaRose Borrelli followed with a double to put two runners in scoring position for the Paladins. After a ground out to third base and an error by the pitcher loaded the bases with one out, Emma Ogburn drove home Bishop with a sacrifice fly. The Mocs' Cori Jennings, however, fanned the next batter to help her team keep the 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Alyssa Coppinger opened the frame with a double and scored on Taylor's single up the middle. A sacrifice bunt moved Taylor to third base and she gave the Mocs a 5-2 lead by scoring on a fielder's choice.

Jennings (7-3) limited Furman to a pair of runs on six hits, while fanning six Paladins to earn the victory. Freshman Emily Demonte (6-4), who allowed four earned runs on nine hits over five innings of work, took the loss for Furman.

GAME 2

Furman led by three runs early, but were forced to rally late to down the Mocs in the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader.

Trailing 5-3 in the top of the sixth inning, Smith started a Furman rally with a leadoff double and moved to third base on Hannah Reynolds' one-out single. The junior sprint home on a wild pitch with two outs and pinch hitter Courtney Jacobs followed with an RBI single to score pinch runner Brittany Houston and tie the game at 5-5.

Pitcher Lindsey Bert singled to begin the seventh inning, but was thrown out at the plate on Bishop's double. With Bishop on third base after advancing on the throw to the plate, UTC reliever Cori Jennings fanned Borrelli for the second out, but Smith reached on an infield single to drive in Bishop with the go-ahead run.

Bert retired the Mocs in order in the bottom of the seventh to earn the victory and move to 8-10 in the circle. She allowed five runs on seven hits over seven innings while issuing three walks and striking out three batters.

Jennings (7-4), who surrendered three runs on six hits in three innings of relief, suffered the loss for Chattanooga.

The Paladins jumped out to a 3-0 lead with single runs in the first, second and third innings. Johnson, for the second time on the day, opened the game with a home run. Smith walked to lead off the second and scored on Taylor Vahle's RBI single before Johnson belted her third solo shot of the day while leading off the top of the third inning. The three homers gave Johnson nine on the season, just one short of Furman's single season record.

Chattanooga knotted the game in the bottom of the fourth on a three-run homer from Ashley Connor and took a 5-3 lead on a two-run blast from Jordan Fortel in the fifth inning.

Furman pounded out 13 hits in game two, including four doubles and two long balls. Smith went 3-for-3 with a double, while Jacobs, Johnson and Bert recorded two hits apiece.

Furman (16-15, 1-1 SoCon) and Chattanooga (18-16, 1-1 SoCon) conclude their three-game series with a single game on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Frost Stadium. Links to live streaming video and live statistics will be available by logging onto FurmanPaladins.com.


Jordan Caskey, Furman Sports Information