Chattanooga, Tenn. – Emily Bartlett and
Alex Rose Molinar both had two hits and two RBI to lead the Furman softball team to a 7-5 victory over the Chattanooga Mocs Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series at Frost Stadium.
Furman improves to 10-17 on the season and 1-2 in SoCon play while Chattanooga drops to 18-15 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
The Paladins trailed 4-3 entering the top of the sixth inning and Mocs pitcher Alyssa Lavdis had retired the first two batters to begin the frame.
Caitlin Goldwait followed by drawing a four-pitch walk and advanced to third when
Ashlee Lykins reached on a fielding error. Molinar began the scoring with her two RBI double to left field to give Furman a 5-4 lead. Bartlett then made the score 7-4 after hitting her team leading fourth home run of the season to center field.
Chattanooga staged a late rally in the bottom of the seventh when the first two batters reached against Paladin reliever
Emme Buzhardt.
Bailey Tanner would come on in relief and the Mocs then managed to cut their deficit to 7-5 after a Furman fielding error. Tanner retired the next three batters to give Furman the two-run victory.
Chattanooga scored runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead before the Paladins answered with a single run in the top of the fourth to trim the Mocs advantage to one on
Lauralee Scott's RBI single.
Furman took its first lead of the game in the top of the fifth inning after scoring twice to go in front 3-2. Lykins and
Becca Crawford, who was pinch running for Bartlett, combined for a double steal with Lykins coming home. A Chattanooga throwing error during the play allowed Crawford to score from second base.
The Mocs answered with two runs in their half of the fifth to go back in front 4-3 on a bases loaded walk and RBI ground out.
Buzhardt (1-0), making her collegiate debut, earned the win in relief pitching three innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks. Tanner (1) picked up the save after tossing one scoreless inning. Lavdis (1-1) took the loss surrendering six runs (one earned) on four hits, two walks and one strikeout in 1.2 innings of relief.
Bartlett and Molinar led the Paladins with two hits and two RBI while
Riley Ludlam contributed two hits. Scott added one hit and one RBI. Lykins scored two runs.
Emily Coltharp and Kailey Snell provided two hits each for Chattanooga. Snell was one of four players to have one RBI.
Furman returns home for the first time in over a month on Wednesday, March 30 to host College of Charleston in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. Fans can follow the action on www.furmanpaladins.com via live stats.
