GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Ethan Carpenter recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts as he and two other Tusculum pitchers combined on a 7-0 shutout over visiting Bluefield State Friday night at Pioneer Park.

The pitching trio of Carpenter, Spencer Brothers and Tyler Hall limited the Big Blues to two hits on the evening, while the Pioneers (31-19) tallied a dozen hits in the victory.

Five Pioneers finished with two hits each, including senior Jeremiah Tullidge, who extends his hitting streak to seven consecutive games. Andrew Bowerman, Chris Waylock, John Topoleski and Scott Gibson each finished with a pair of hits in the TC win.

Carpenter (5-2) retired the first 11 batters he would face before giving up a walk to Ricky Diaz in the fourth inning. Bluefield State's Crachad Laing recorded his team's first hit when he lined a single down the left field line with two outs in the fifth frame.

Meanwhile, Tusculum got on the board in the first inning when Tullidge hit a two-out single and moved to second on an error. Waylock took advantage with his RBI single to left and a 1-0 TC lead.

The Pioneers plated two runs in the fifth as Bowerman led off with a single and scored all the way from third base on Tullidge's hit and run through the right side. Tullidge moved to second on the throw back to the infield. But the throw to second to get Tullidge out sailed into centerfield, allowing him to extend the Tusculum lead to 3-0.

TC added three more runs in the sixth when Topoleski and Jalen Shuffler led off with back-to-back singles. Jim Tolle drove in Topoleski with his seventh double of the season. Gibson's fly out to right field brought in Shuffler from third base and Tolle later scored on Bowerman's RBI double, his team-leading 14th of the season.

Tusculum scratched out a run in the eighth on Creighton Wilke's sacrifice fly for a 7-0 advantage.

Carpenter went seven innings, allowed two hits, one walk and 10 strikeouts. Brothers and Hall each pitched a perfect inning in the eighth and ninth, respectively.

Bluefield State starter Ridge Sibold (2-7) suffered the loss as he went 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts.

The two teams will play the second game of the three-game weekend series on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. as part of Tusculum's second annual "Pack the Park for Education" Night. All Greeneville and Greene County school system students, faculty, staff, administrators and employees will be admitted free to the game. Festivities begin at 3:30 p.m. outside the stadium with live bands, food, games and fun for the whole family. Following Saturday night's game, there will be a fireworks show, sponsored by East Tennessee Metal and Iron.

- TC -