Nashville --- The Tennessee State University softball team dropped both games in a doubleheader against Chattanooga Tuesday afternoon at Tiger Field.

Tennessee State fell to 9-20 while Chattanooga improved to 28-9 on the season.

Bridget Metzger (.667) went 2-of-3 at the plate for TSU and recorded a run in the doubleheader. Caitlin Eaton tallied three hits and two RBI over both games.

As a team, TSU hit .173 and committed four errors.

The Tigers return to action tomorrow when they travel across town to Lipscomb for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at Draper Diamond.

Game One

In a game that featured a good old fashioned pitcher's duel between Caitlin Eaton and Brooke Loudermilk, Tennessee State came up on the short end of a, 2-0, decision to Chattanooga.

Eaton threw five strikeouts and only yielded two hits through five innings while Brooke Loudermilk rang up seven and didn't allow any hits during that time span. 

Eaton got in trouble in the top of the sixth after a misplayed bunt and a double down the left field line led to Chattanooga taking a 1-0 lead. A single to center field added another run for UTC to make the score 2-0 before the inning ended.

The Tigers threatened in the bottom of the sixth when an error and a hit by Caitlin Eaton put runners on the corners. TSU, however, was unable to score a run.

In the bottom of the seventh, Kandice Irwin came in to pitch for Chattanooga and retired the TSU batters in order.

Caitlin Eaton (2-7) was charged with the loss while Brooke Loudermilk (14-6) picked up the win. Loudermilk finished with nine strikeouts.

Game Two

After trailing early, TSU fought back from a three-run deficit but it wasn't enough as UTC used a grand slam to pull away and secure the sweep.

The Lady Mocs grabbed an early, 1-0, lead in the top of the first but the Tigers answered in their half of the frame to knot the score, 1-1.

In the top of the fourth, back-to-back doubles led to UTC going ahead, 3-1. After Natalie Papini came in to relieve Megan Hedrick, a single through the left side increased the UTC lead to 4-1 before the ending ended.

TSU rallied from behind in the bottom of the fifth with three runs to tie the game, 4-4, when Jalisa Bradley, Katie Jordan and Natalie Papini crossed the plate.

Two walks and a hit loaded the bases for UTC in the top of the sixth before Hannah Schnebly came in to pitch for Papini. A few batters later, the Lady Mocs reclaimed the lead, 8-4, when Tiffany Baker hit a grand slam to center field.

Tamara Perkins led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and Jalisa Bradley was hit by a pitch before Bridget Metzger singled to load the bases with one out. The next two batters, however, struck out swinging, leaving the runners stranded on base.

UTC added two more runs in the top of the seventh to make the advantage 10-4. In the bottom of the seventh, with two outs, the Tigers had runners on the corners but were unable to capitalize.

Natalie Papini fell to 0-3 on the season while Kandice Irwin improved to 6-0. Bridget Metzger, Caitlin Eaton and Tamara Perkins each recorded two hits for TSU.