Blue Raider Softball Nipped at Frost Classic

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee softball (5-11-1) dropped a pair of close games in the first day of the Frost Classic at UT-Chattanooga. The Blue Raiders fell to Tennessee Tech 3-1 and host Chattanooga 2-1 Friday at Frost Stadium.

The Blue Raiders opened the tournament against fellow in-state club Tennessee Tech. The Golden Eagles got all three of their runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Jennifer Markham led off the inning for Tennessee Tech with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice. A single by Beth Boden moved Markham to third and she scored when Stephanie Fischer hit an RBI single. With two outs, Danielle Wallace knocked in two runs for the Eagles with a double to left center.

Middle Tennessee was held scoreless for six innings before it got on the board. Muriel Ledbetter led off the inning with a walk and sophomore Ashley Katinas came in to pinch run for Ledbetter. Melissa Weiland got on base off a Tennessee Tech error which advanced Katinas to third. Jennifer Dorais hit into a ground out but she plated Katinas for the Blue Raider's lone run of the game.

Freshman Laura Moore drew the loss on the mound for Middle Tennessee. She threw a complete game allowing three runs on seven hits and struck out five.

The second game was a re-match from earlier in the week when the Blue Raiders faced host Chattanooga. Middle Tennessee swept the Lady Mocs on Wednesday 3-0, 5-3 but wasn't so fortuitous in the two club's third meeting.

After five scoreless innings, Chattanooga struck first with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Lady Mocs got their first run of the inning when Ashlan Clarkson hit an RBI sacrifice to score Ashley Cuticchia. Chattanooga scored its second run when relief pitcher Trish White threw a wild pitch that allowed Alyssa Edwards to score from third.

Middle Tennessee attempted a rally in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Trish White drew a walk and moved into scoring position when Katie Mielke hit a single to right field. Shelby Stiner reached first on a fielder's choice, moving White to third, but Mielke was out at second during the play. Michelle Wilkes, who is having a stellar season so far at the plate, hit an RBI single to score White to assure the Blue Raiders wouldn't suffer a shutout. During the play, in which White scored, pinch runner Brandi Boehner was caught in a run down for the third out of the inning.

Moore took the loss on the mound. She allowed two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings of work and falls to 4-6 on the season. White came into the game in relief tossing 1.2 innings allowing two hits.

Kristine Reed Mielke led the Blue Raiders. Each was 2-for-3 in the game.

The Blue Raiders return to action on Saturday in the second day of the Frost Classic. Middle Tennessee will face North Florida at 10 a.m. and Bradley University at 12:15 p.m.

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