An early start was interrupted as the Chattanooga softball team fell 5-2 to Mercer Saturday afternoon at Jim Frost Stadium in the series finale.
The Mocs were four batters in with a 1-0 lead on an error, a sac bunt and an RBI single from Baileigh Pitts when lightning struck within the 10-mile radius, forcing a suspension of play. A second strike near the end of the first 30 minute delay, forced another. Play was suspended for 1:17.
After returning to the field, Anna Dovey walked, but the Bears got out of the inning without any more damage. Mercer tied the game in the top of the second with a lead-off home run.
The Bears scored three runs in the fourth inning on three hits to grow its lead to 4-1. Chattanooga got one run back in the bottom of the fifth. Pitts singled and Izzy Carlyle came in to run. With one out, Mia Leone doubled to right center, scoring Carlyle from first to make it 4-2.
One more run for Mercer in the sixth made it 5-2 and they would hold on for the win.
The Mocs had eight hits and drew three walks. Pitts was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, an RBI and a stolen base. Zoe Wright was 3-for-3, Ava Cowart was 2-for-4 and Leone had a double and drove in a run. Taylor Long pitched all seven innings and had six strikeouts.