GREENEVILLE, Tenn. ---- Tusculum's Placido Torres recorded a dozen strikeouts, while the Pioneers pounded out 16 hits en route to a 19-2 victory over Bluefield State Saturday night before a crowd of 1,210. The game was held in conjunction with Tusculum's Pack the Park for Education initiative.

Torres (9-3) becomes the first player in program history to post over 100 strikeouts in a season as he finished 2015 with a school record 110 strikeouts. He pitched five shutout innings as 12 of his 15 outs came via the strikeout. Torres struck out the first four batters of the game and eight of the first 10 he would face.

Meanwhile the Pioneers (32-19) roared out to an 11-0 lead sparked by a two-run triple from Chris Waylock in the first inning and Scott Gibson's bases-loaded triple to highlight a seven-run, second inning for the Black & Orange.

Tusculum scored twice in the fourth inning thank to Andrew Bowerman's two-run double for his team-leading 15th two-bagger of the season.

Tusculum added eight more runs in the seventh as 14 batters went to the plate, including a two-run double from Creighton Wilke.

Bowerman led the Pioneers going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Waylock went 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Vinny Ferrara, Nick Rodriguez, Travis Winnon and Jeovanny Tolentino all finished with two hits apiece.

The Pioneers were on the receiving side of 11 walks and three hit batters as Tusculum recorded its third straight victory and improves its home record to 24-4.

TC has won the first two games of the weekend series and the Pioneers will close out the season on Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest against the Big Blues.

- TC -