Chattanooga needed just one win Saturday to claim another Southern Conference softball tournament title, but Mercer got in the way. The Bears rallied late in the first game to beat the Mocs 6-5 and force the second game. They would go on to win the second game and claim their first SoCon Tournament crown.
The Mocs had nine hits in the first game and 12 for the day with three doubles and seven RBI. Acelynn Sellers was 1-for-1 with a double, two RBI and five walks and was hit by a pitch. Presley Williamson was 1-for-2 with a double as a pinch hitter. Camryn Cernuto was 3-for-8 and scored two runs. Peja Goold started both games and struck out a tournament-best 10 in 12 innings pitched.
CHATTANOOGA 5, MERCER 6
The Mocs put up five runs through the first two innings, but the Bears plated six in the late innings to claim a 6-5 win over Chattanooga and force the “if” game in the Southern Conference Championship.
The Mocs scored three runs in the first on a trio of singles, a walk and a hit by pitch. Kailey Snell was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Camryn Cernuto beat out the throw to first to put two runners on. Olivia Lipari sacrificed both over and Acelynn Sellers was walked on four pitched.
Baileigh Pitts took a 3-2 count through the left side and drove in the first two runs of the game. Raven Jones, two batters later, drove in the third run of the inning with a single up the middle.
Chattanooga put together a two-out rally in the second to push the lead to five runs. With two outs, Cernuto picked up her second hit of the game and took second on a single by Lipari. Sellers, doubled to left field, driving in the pair to make it 5-0.
The Mocs stranded two in the third and fourth and went down in order in the final three innings.
Mercer cut the lead to one run in the fifth with a three-run triple and a sac fly to make it 5-4. In the sixth, the Bears added two more to take the lead and held on for the win.
Chattanooga moves to 41-14 overall and Mercer improves to 37-24.
Taylor Long is now 13-3 on the year. She struck out one, facing 11 batters. Peja Goold got the start and struck out seven, walked six and gave up four earned runs. Camryn Cernuto went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Sellers was 1-for-1 with three walks and two RBI. Pitts drove in two runs on one hit and Jones tallied an RBI on one hit.
GAME 2: CHATTANOOGA 2, MERCER 5
The Mocs scored a run in the bottom of the first to tie the deciding game Saturday, but wouldn’t get on the board again until the sixth. However, Mercer spread five runs over six innings to claim the win and its first SoCon Tournament title.
Kailey Snell led off the bottom of the first with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a ground out by Camryn Cernuto. Snell scored from second on a double into the gap in right center by Olivia Lipari. Acelynn Sellers was walked again and the pair was stranded.
Mercer struck first with a double down the left field line to score the runner from second. The Bears added two more in the third on a two-run blast from Tori Hedgecock to make it 3-1. In the fourth Hannah Rivers doubled to left and scored on an error at the fence putting Mercer out front 4-1.
Both teams added another run in the sixth. Mercer led off with a double and Rivers reached on a strike out swinging throwing error to first to leave runners at the corners. A pinch hit single drove in the fifth run and an error loaded the bases. The next at bat drew a play at the plate, stopping another run and a fly out ended the threat.
In the bottom of the sixth the Mocs added a second run. Sellers was hit to lead off the inning. With one out and one on, Presley Williamson doubled to right center to put runners at second and third. Raven Jones grounded out and pinch runner Abi Pikas trotted home to make it 5-2.
Chattanooga closed out the year at 41-15 while laying claim to its 16th SoCon Regular Season title. Peja Goold tallied 25 wins and was third in the NCAA for shutouts with eight. She was named the SoCon Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season. Olivia Lipari was the Player of the Year and Frank Reed was named the league’s Coach of the Year. Taylor Long and Camryn Cernuto were named to the All-Conference Second Team while Lexi Cooley earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team.