Sunday, April 06, 2003

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 6, 2003) - Chattanooga edged East Tennessee State 5-2 in softball action from Kiwanis-Metro Park Sunday. The Mocs' Melissa Ramirez and Lindsey Brown each went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, as ETSU fell to 16-16 overall and 3-5 in the Southern Conference. ETSU took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when sophomore Danielle Spetar (Knoxville, Tenn.), who led the Buccaneers with a 2-for-3 day at the plate, smashed the first pitch she saw over the centerfield fence. Chattanooga (24-24, 4-6 SoCon) retaliated in the top of the fourth in similar fashion, as junior Lindsey Brown hit her second homerun of the weekend to even the score at 1-1. The Buccaneers responded in the bottom half of the frame. Spetar led off the inning with a double off of the centerfield wall and first baseman Miranda Byerly (Candler, N.C.) singled to center to drive in Spetar for the go-ahead run. ETSU pitcher Tiffany McVay (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.) ran into some trouble in the fifth inning. She issued a leadoff walk to Chattanooga first baseman Leslie Barron, but Barron was putout at second base when designated hitter Gina Sterchi failed to advance Barron on a botched sacrifice bunt attempt. McVay then gave up two consecutive singles and walked Bryn Favor with the bases loaded, allowing Sterchi crossed home plate to tie the game at 2-2. Ramirez followed by punching a single through the right side of the infield to drive in Teri Herbert and Grace Pickett. Chattanooga added another insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Brown's two-out single scored Ramirez from second base, giving the Mocs a 5-2 advantage. The Mocs scattered eight hits off of McVay, who pitched all seven innings for Bucs and fell to 9-5 this season following Sunday's loss. Awbrey Winckler picked up the win for Chattanooga, hurling five innings in relief of starting pitcher Abby Cotrell. East Tennessee State travels to Charleston Southern for a doubleheader on April 11, and will then face Southern Conference opponent College of Charleston in a three-game series April 12-13.