Clermont, FL. (Feb. 10) - In their season homer, the Florida A&M Softball team dropped a 5-3 decision to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in their first game of the Dot Richardson's National Collegiate Invitational at NTC Field.

FAMU (0-1) tallied three hits as Ashanti Shepherd, Whitney Robinson and Arianna Stewart finished with one hit each.

UTC (2-0) garnered two hits each from Sara Poteat, Sarah Beth Roberts and Kaiti Dutton.

Deason Taylor (1-0) picked up the win for the Mocs as she gave up two earned runs and struck out six in seven complete innings of work. FAMU's Whitney Robinson received the loss for the Lady Rattlers as she gave up two earned runs in five innings on the mound.

A Kasey Tydingco blast gave UTC a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as she homered to center field.
FAMU would reclaim the lead in the in their half of the first as Jasmin Donaldson scored on a failed pick off attempt by the Mocs, followed by a Stewart single scoring Robinson.  Tera Gainer would score on a Genesis Lopez fielder's choice, giving the Lady Rattlers a 3-1 lead.

Poteat cut FAMU's lead to 3-2 as she scored on a Michelle Fuzzard single in the top of the third inning.

UTC took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth as Cheyenne Willis scored on a FAMU infielder's error, followed by Tydingco's sacrifice fly to center field scoring Fuzzard.

Tydingco would hit her second solo homer of the game in the top of the seventh as UTC held on for the 5-3 win.

FAMU will return to action as they will take on the University of North Florida at 5 p.m., in their second game of the Dot Richardson's National Collegiate Invitational, on Friday, February 10.