On a cold day at Jim Frost Stadium, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team found a way to win despite not having much success with the bat.

UTC scored four unearned runs in the second inning and managed to hold on for a 4-3 win over Furman on Sunday to sweep the three-game weekend series to open Southern Conference play.

The Lady Mocs took advantage of wild pitches by Paladins starter Kayla Suskauer and a pair of throwing errors by catcher Megan Schonhar to get runs scored by Nikki Waters, Brittany Eason, Jessica Traxler and Lauren Flores. However, UTC managed just two hits the rest of the game against Lana Mackey and never threatened to score again.

Flores, who was 1-for-3 on the day with an RBI and a run scored, said the Lady Mocs were too comfortable at the plate against the Paladins.

"It was just that we weren't being really aggressive," Flores said. "We were just waiting back, which we shouldn't have done. I think this is something we can learn from -- we have to be aggressive, we have to make adjustments at the plate."

UTC coach Frank Reed wasn't happy with his team's performance against Furman despite the win.

"Honestly, I knew things weren't going good in the second inning even though we had that four-run lead," Reed said. "We have a really bad habit of getting really complacent when we put three or more runs on the board. ... We can't do that."

UTC starting pitcher Brooke Loudermilk appeared to be in command of the game through four innings. However Furman's Brythe Blakenship hit the first pitch of the fifth inning over the wall in center field, and Morgan Hughey hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to cut UTC's lead to 4-3.

After Hughey's home run, UTC reliever Kandice Irwin came in and retired the final five batters in order to earn her fifth save of the season and preserve the win for Loudermilk (10-5).

"I just went out there and pitched my game," Irwin said. "I wasn't worried about the score or anyone on base or anything like that. I just wanted to go out there and pitch how I know I can pitch."

UTC will take a break from Southern Conference play for the next two weeks. The Lady Mocs will play a single game at home against Tennessee Tech on Tuesday and will host Eastern Illinois for a doubleheader Thursday before a weekend trip to Belmont for a dobuleheader Saturday.

Tuesday's game against Tennessee Tech will feature several local players. The Golden Eagles roster includes former Dalton player Lacie Coquerille; Holly Thomas, of Ooltewah; and former Baylor teammates Maddie Schmissrauter and Samantha Everett.

Upchurch leaves team

Reed announced Sunday that senior Laci Upchurch had left the team for personal reasons and will not return.

"Softball is a team sport, and that's the thing that we stress," Reed said. "We wish her the best. I told her that if there's anything I can do to help her down the road that I'll be glad to do it."

Upchurch, of Madison, Tenn., entered the season needing two home runs to set a new UTC career record. She hit one home run. She homered against Butler on Feb. 19 at the Austin Peay Classic and ends her college career tied for the record with Melissa Ramirez (2002-05) at 25 home runs for the Lady Mocs. She was a two-time All-SoCon selection in her sophomore and junior seasons.

Upchurch missed the 2009 season recovering from shoulder surgery and had struggled somewhat at the plate since returning to the roster. She was batting .229 with three RBIs and three extra-base hits, and she had struck out 12 times in 35 at bats this season.

Fuzzard faces surgery

Reed also said Sunday that junior first baseman and pitcher Michelle Fuzzard will most likely have surgery to repair her injured knee and will miss the rest of the 2010 season.

Fuzzard will be allowed to redshirt this season and will return in 2011 with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

In 15 games this season, Fuzzard was batting .300 with five RBIs, but the power hitter from Huntington Beach, Calif., had yet to hit a home run this season.

In the pitching circle, Fuzzard had started two games this season and had a 1-0 record with a 1.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts.

With Fuzzard out, freshman and fellow Californian Kasey Tydingco has seen her playing time increase at first base. Tydingco said she's ready to do her best to help the team in a more active role going forward.

"I had a rough first tournament, but it takes a game or two to really get used to what college softball really is about," Tydingco said. "People don't realize how different it is, and you really need that experience. But I'm ready to step up."