CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Union University softball team posted an 8-5 win over Shorter University in the final day of the Chattanooga Invitational hosted by Lee University. Union lost the late game 3-1 to UVA Wise. Union also dropped two games Friday, 5-1 to Illinois Springfield and 5-2 to Young Harris. 

In the win over Shorter Saturday morning, Union scored early with two runs in the first on a 2-RBI single from Ella Joy Bragan. After Shorter tied the game at 2-2, Union added runs in the third, fourth, fifth, and seventh to lead 8-2, before winning 8-5. Mallory Hildebrand and Chloe Jones led with three hits each, while Rylee Moore had two hits. Jones led with four RBI, and Bragan added two. Paige Garetson tossed 5.2 innings in relief of Riley Vaughn. Garetson allowed three runs, two earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

Saturday's final game versus UVA Wise, Union allowed three unearned runs in the first inning, falling 3-1. Moore took the hard-luck loss, tossing six innigs allowing three hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Courtney Marler led with three hits, while Hildebrand added two hits. Cassidy Goddard had the team's lone RBI. 

Union trailed 5-0 to Illinois Springfield in the seventh. Union's seventh-inning rally was stopped at one run. Jones led with two hits and had the lone RBI. Emily Clair Felder took the loss, allowing five earned runs on 14 hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. 

The 5-2 loss to Young Harris Friday afternoon was similar to Saturday's final game, with unearned runs deciding the game. Union led 2-1 in the seventh, but allowed four unearned runs in the top of the seventh. Union had five hits from five different players. Marler and Hildebrand had an RBI apiece. 

Moore and Marler recorded hits in all four games on the weekend for Union. 

Up next for Union will be a 3-game weekend series at Ouachita Baptist, Friday and Saturday, February 13-14. Friday's game is at 4 p.m. with a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday. 

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