CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga softball team fell 5-3 to UNLV in its first game Sunday on the final day of the Frost Classic then dropped a 2-1 extra innings decision to Akron in a pitching duel in the closing game.
 
"We were in both games today, especially the last game," head coach Frank Reed said. "We had opportunities to win both games and we just don't know how to finish. Until we learn how to do that, it's going to be a long season."
 
UNLV 5, CHATTANOOGA 3
Chattanooga got on the board first against UNLV, leading 3-0 after the first inning, but the Rebels shut down the Mocs the rest of the way on the way to a 5-3 victory at Warner Park.
 
UNLV added two runs in the top of the second and took the lead on a home run in the fourth and added a fifth run in the top of the seventh.
 
The Mocs sat the first three batters of the game then opened the bottom of the inning with a lead-off single by Emily Coltharp. A bunt single by Riley Kokinda and walk from Kaili Phillips loaded the bases. Acelynn Sellers picked up where she left off Saturday and singled up the middle with one out for a pair of RBIs.
 
A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position and Anna Dovey, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on a single from Olivia Lipari's shot to right field to put the Mocs up 3-0 on the Rebels.
 
UNLV added a pair in the top of the second to cut Chattanooga's lead to 3-2 on a bases loaded ground out to second and a sac fly to center field with one out.
 
The Rebels added two on a home run in the fourth and an RBI single in the seventh.
 
Chattanooga's defense kept UNLV from scoring in the fifth with a caught stealing at the plate.
 
Parrott went four innings with Taylor Long finishing the remaining three. The pair had three strikeouts each with no walks. Coltharp was 2-for-4 and Lipari was 2-of-3. Sellers had a pair of RBI on 1-of-3 at the plate.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
B1st: Sellers singled up the middle, 2 RBI; Dovey advanced to second; Phillips scored; Kokinda scored.
B1st: Lipari Singled to right field, RBI; Sellers advanced to third; Dovey scored.
T2nd: Martin grounded out to 2b, RBI; Morales advanced to second; Kelso advanced to third; Martinez scored.
T2nd: Baker flied out to cf, SF, RBI; Kelso scored.
T4th: Martin homered to center field, 2 RBI; Kelso scored.
T7th: Armendariz singled down the rf line, RBI; Schmaltz scored.
 
WP: Jasmine Martin
LP: Brooke Parrott
 
AKRON 2, CHATTANOOGA 1 – 9 INNINGS
In the second game, the Mocs fell 2-1 in nine to Akron. Chattanooga gave up a run early and tied it up in the fifth, forcing extra innings for the second time this week. The Zips plated the game winner in the ninth and held off the Mocs in the bottom of the inning for the win.
 
Peja Goold went all nine innings with six trike outs, one walk and two runs on six hits. She forced 11 ground outs and saw eight outs in the air.
 
Akron led off the game with a single and a ground out two batters later put runners at second and third. The next batter reached on a throwing error by Chattanooga, plating the first runner of the game.
 
Coltharp singled to lead off the Mocs half of the first but Chattanooga was unable to get the score despite her making it to third.
 
Peja Goold, going all nine innings, saw just three batters in each of the of the next three innings. In the fifth she fielded a single with two outs to get the runner out at home and ended the scoring threat.
 
Chattanooga's run in the fifth was one for the books. Lipari led off the inning with a single to right center. With Presley Williamson at the plate, Lipari advanced to second on a wild pitch and then made it to third on another wild pitch by the Akron slinger.
 
A third wild pitch to the same batter sent Lipari home for the game-tying run. The Mocs got two runners on base forcing the Zips to change pitchers who got the next two outs to end the fifth.
 
The Mocs fielded a fly to left field and threw out the runner at the plate to end the inning and keep it tied up through the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh, Lipari walked and stole second, but the Zips kept the Mocs in check to force extras.
 
The Mocs got another out at the plate in the top of the eighth from Coltharp to Williamson.
 
Adison Keylon was placed at second to start the Mocs eighth inning. An attempt to advance the runner, the Mocs next at bat was a bunt that popped up to third for the first out. Zoe Wright grounded out to advance Keylon to third and Kaili Phillips was walked. However, the inning would end on a flyout to right field.
 
Akron scored on a sac fly in the top of the ninth and kept Chattanooga off the board in the ninth. Kendall Forsythe was placed at second to start the inning and Abby Orr entered to run for her. A sac bunt by Sellers advanced the runner to second and after drawing a walk, Lipari stole second. That would be it for Chattanooga who drops to 5-4 overall.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
T1ST: Campbell reached on a throwing error by 3b; McChesney advanced to third; Sivek scored, unearned.
B5th: Lipari scored on a wild pitch.
T9th: Campbell flied out to cf, SF, RBI; Lee scored
 
WP: Haley Croyle
LP: Peja Goold
 
Up next for UTC is a trip to North Carolina for the Gardner-Webb Tournament in Boiling Springs. The Mocs will face off with Sacred Heart and Harvard Friday, host Bulldogs and Sacred Heart on Saturday and close with Detroit Mercy Sunday.