CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Mother Nature was not kind to the Trees Friday evening as a steady downpour cut short any hope of a comeback in a 6-5 loss (5 inn.) at Chattanooga.
 
The loss, dealt at the hands of both the tournament host Mocs and Mother Nature, was called after five innings due to rain. The Mocs (7-0) had taken a one-run lead two innings prior. That lead came in an offensive battle where bats were swinging at a fervent pace with all 11 of the game's runs coming in the first three innings.
 
Indiana State would battle back from a first-inning deficit as a grand slam put the Sycamores in the hole, despite scoring two runs in the top of the first before an out could be recorded. ISU would score on a Chattanooga error in the second then manufacture a pair of runs in the third to tie the game at 5-5. But the host Mocs would score a run off another Sycamore error to take a 6-5 lead. In all only one of Chattanooga's six runs in the game were earned.
 
Weather conditions continued to deteriorate as the rainfall failed to diminish. Peterson would triple in the fourth but get stranded 60 feet away. Indiana State would put another runner in scoring position in the fifth but to no avail. Chattanooga would not put another runner in scoring position after taking the 6-5 lead. Officials declared the game final after the fifth inning as rainfall continued to increase.
 
Arielle Blankenship (2-1) was charged with the loss after allowing just one unearned run in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Allison Swinford (1-0) claimed the win after three innings in relief, allowing only four hits.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Rain makes flowers bloom and Flower Power herself was impressive at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a triple. She scored one run and drove in another.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
The three stolen bases recorded by the Sycamores marked the fourth game in four outings this year that Indiana State has stolen multiple bases.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Allison Swinford, Chattanooga (1-0)
• Loss: Arielle Blankenship, Indiana State (2-1)
• Save: None

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 4-1 (2-1 Away)
• Chattanooga: 7-0 (2-0 Home)

NOTABLES

• Indiana State is now 1-4 all-time against Chattanooga. The Sycamores are 1-1 against the Mocs under the direction of Mike Perniciaro.
• Leslie Sims recorded her fifth stolen base of the season and in as many tries. This marked the 89^th consecutive game she has not been thrown out on the base paths.
• Bella Peterson's triple marked just her second career triple.
• ISU left seven runners on base in the game, the most in any game so far this season.

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