Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLERMONT, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2017)-The Morgan State softball team began the 2017 season on a high note, defeating Tennessee Chattanooga, 5-1 on Friday morning in the first game of the Dot Richardson Invitational held at the National Training Center.
 
It was the Lady Bears' first season opening win in eight years. The last time Morgan State won a season opening contest, it defeated Alabama A&M by a score of 3-2 on Feb. 7, 2009.
 
Morgan State (1-0) got on the board with a run in the top of the first inning when Damali Young, stole third base and scored on the play on a throwing error on the Mocs' catcher.
 
The Lady Bears increased their advantage to 4-0, when they added three runs in the third. Sarah Clark led off the inning with a double to right field. Alyssa Blanco, who was pinch running for Clark, scored on a throwing error on the Chattanooga pitcher. Audrianna Alvarez would later hit a two-run homer to left field to give the Lady Bears a four-run cushion.
 
Chattanooga loaded the bases in the fifth inning, following two fielding errors on Morgan State and a single. However, Morgan State pitcher Amy Begg was able to get out of the inning, allowing just one run on a sacrifice fly, as the Lady Bears held a 4-1 lead after five innings of play.
 
The Lady Bears would add a run in the top of the sixth when Briana Jones scored on a wild pitch for the 5-1 victory.
 
Begg (1-0) pitched a complete game for Morgan State, surrendering a run on six hits with three walks, while recording four strikeouts.

Note: The Lady Bears would return to action later in the afternoon and defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 7-5. It's the Lady Bears' first 2-0 start to a season, since 2009. Check back, as no stats were available for this game at the time of this release.