Chattanooga, Tenn. (March 23, 2002)-- East Tennessee State fell 9-1 but then prevailed 3-1 to split a doubleheader against Southern Conference rival Chattanooga Saturday afternoon at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. Chattanooga jumped out on top early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second. They would add another run in the bottom of the third and three in the fifth before the Bucs would strike in the top of the sixth. After sophomore pitcher Tiffany Vandergriff (Sale Creek, Tenn.) walked with two outs and then stole second. She would score on a single to center field by freshman outfielder Danielle Spetar (Knoxville, Tenn.). But that was all that ETSU's offense could muster against Chattanooga starter Beth Alexander as the Lady Mocs plated three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 9-1 and end the game. Vandergriff (3-4) went the distance, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits, striking out one in 5.1 innings of work. Spetar and sophomore left fielder Rhea Holler (Peoria, Ariz.) collected the only hits of the game for the Bucs, both singles. Beth Alexander fanned 12 Bucs, which was just one shy of her own school record. Interestingly, Alexander struck out 13 ETSU batters last season to set the record. Alexander (12-2) had a perfect game through four innings and yielded just two hits and one walk on the day. Jada Pescatore set a new school record with seven RBIs for Chattanooga in a game to lead the Lady Mocs. She smashed two three-run homers and was at the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth. UTC broke on top in the first inning of the second game on a RBI double by Jill Crawford, which plated Melissa Ramirez who had doubled earlier in the inning. ETSU came back with three runs in the fifth when Spetar stroked a three-run double to right-center, which chased UTC starter Awbrey Winckler. Sophomore designated player Julia Chance (Knoxville, Tenn.) and freshman pinch hitter Amy Moore (Jacksonville, Fla.) drew back-to-back walks to start the inning and one out later, Vandergriff was intentionally walked. Spetar spoiled the strategy with a deep double in the gap. UTC had chances to score but stranded eight runners, including two each in the sixth and seventh. ETSU senior pitcher Marsha Giles (Jonesborough, Tenn.) (5-5) pitched around six walks with one strikeout and five hits to record the victory. Spetar went 2-4 with 3 RBI in game two of the series. Vandergriff collected the other hit of the afternoon for ETSU. ETSU (13-12 overall, 3-2 SoCon) and Chattanooga (18-8, 3-1) play the final game of their series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn.